OMG I've been a blathering fool already!! I'm so excited about some of the new foods I'm trying - mock tuna salad - it's better then the real stuff!! My family and friends are cautiously receptive but as soon as I mention I'm thinking about going vegan their faces get this weird look :^:
I'm going to work on phasing it out slowly but surely. I'm more worried about all the things I don't naturally think about like whey for example. I'm sure it'll come in time just can't expect to be perfect at first!
I think I can do it now that I've discovered non-dairy ice cream :dizzy:

Ah, the "you're a vegan freak" look. Yeah, welcome to holding a minority opinion. I plan to own my freakness though. Great vegan site (and great book too): www.veganfreak.com. They have really cool forums, too!

The non-dairy ice cream is killer isn't it? Soy Delicious "Purely Decadent" brand is SOOOOOOOOOO good that I don't keep any in the house and haven't had any since I started eating more healthy. Because it is just TOO good, just SO yum! But I like knowing it is there, ready for me on that special day I decide I want a fabulous dessert treat!

I get the Soy Delicious ice cream sandwiches. 150 cal each comes in both chocolate and vanilla. Great treat to have in the evening without blowing the whole day. I just make sure I have enough calories left in my day to have one.

I've always enjoyed waving my freak flag over other things so why not this too =P Wait is there an actual vegan-flag?
OMG I love Soy Delicious!! I have to have a sweet fix about once-twice a week. It cuts into my calories but keeps me on track at the same time!

That book sounds awesome, I just read some of the excerpts- calling my bookstore to see if they have it!

So you guys have convinced me (wasn't that hard really!) to make this step. I know off hand I have eggs and a small amount of cheese and some crackers that have dairy in them at the house. I'm not going to waste these but not going to buy more either (or order in a restaurant) even though I'm not completely tofurky yet!

Yea!!

Thought I posted a reply to this thread. Oh well...

I've been going back and forth between veganism and vegetarianism for the last year and a half (not because I find it hard to go vegan but because stress drives up my cravings for non-vegan junk food and I had a lot of changes in the past year and a half). But I promised myself 2008 would be my year to stay vegan and started out really well in Jan, did it for two months straight without any junk food binges (my weakness) and lost weight (didn't weigh myself, so don't know how much). Then decided to vary the menu to try a raw vegan diet, which was my downfall. I love the concept of raw veganism, but I have way too many food issues to be able to stick with such a restricted plan.

I was doing a little dairy for three weeks, but came to my senses and I've been vegan now for about a week. I didn't find giving up cheese too difficult, actually, once I gave it up cold tofu :D. But I also decided to give up coffee at the same time and I love coffee with half-and-half, so the HAH was a bit harder. But now I like iced tea :).

I'm trying to eat "clean" (i.e., whole foods) and not too many carbs (even the good ones, when I overdo them, cause cravings for me) so I eat a lot of veggies, beans, some fruit and whole grains, and good fats. I actually upped my fat intake a bit because I was eating 1200-1300 calories before and I know it wasn't enough. Now I'm at about 1500 and so far it's working much better.

Can't say how much weight I lost yet but I definitely feel the difference. I also developed a terrible rash around my thigh/other unmentionable areas around the time I started adding dairy back into my diet (go figure ;)...) and they are now much better, almost cleared up.

Best of luck!

Tam

Tam, I'm the same way with a diet that is too restrictive. It drives me to binge because I think of all the things I "can't" have. Right now I am just working on cutting out all meats and not buying dairy, that's step one. Step two will be cutting all diary out like not getting cheese on things when I eat out or at family dinners. And the last step will be moving from using a lot of meat replacement products to only using them occasionally and eating mostly whole foods.

I'm not a raw vegan now nor do I ever expect I will be. (I love cooked beans WAY too much) My goal right now though is to include a lot more raw items into my diet. I've begun growing sprouts and really enjoy those. I am favoring raw veggies over cooked while still eating some cooked.

When I first tried to incorporate more raw foods into my diet, I did go a little crazy and started binging. It was crazy. Now it is a bit different I also just generally enjoy experimenting with food.

I can also say that I enjoy food now more than I ever have. I love vegan food :)

Wow, it is so good to see some more vegans on this board! I haven’t been hanging out here too much lately. I don’t have as much time to “play” online as I once used to, and I’ve found myself a home on a couple vegan forums where I usually hang out when I do have time (including the PPK, they're great!). They have little health and fitness corners, as well as news, chat, politics, food, etc from a vegan perspective. When I have no other vegans in my life it is nice to belong to at least a virtual community of vegans!

I have been vegetarian for 14 years, vegan leaning for the last 2 or so, and all vegan all the time since Jan 1 this year. It’s awesome, had I known giving up cheese and declining food in social situations wouldn’t be as bad as I feared, I think I would have done it sooner!

Holy complicated posting, Batman!!
 

Hi, guys

My name is Becky and I tried to post you several websites with vegan recipes on them, but because I only joined three fat chicks on Wednesday and only have six posts, they won't let me include links, no matter how I disguise them

Then I tried to PM the OP with the links and I have to have 10 posts to send a PM.

BWA HA HA HA HA

obviously you'll just have to go out and find the cooking sites yourself or I'm going to have to get much wordier much quicker!!

Well, in 25 posts or so, I'll let you know. :)

ooohhh
 

I'm up to seven posts with that last one ... and I guess this one makes eight, eh? I'm getting all Giddy.

I'm sorry, I'll stop now. :o

Im in your shoes exactly. I have been meat free for a total of 9 months, EXCEPT SHRIMP. I intend to give up shrimp within the next week. I cant seem to give up cheese!! I want to so bad but it is so hard haveing to cook for your family who are avid meat eaters.

I would love to share tips and stuff.......count me in!!! By the way, I am doing it for the animals, not health reasons. I love animals and want to do all I can while I am on this earth for them.

I didnt know Honey was made cruelly.......no more honey!!

Ya know, I feel so alone sometimes when it comes to vegetarianism and veganism. When i tell people I am transitioning into veganism, they just look at me weird as I explain it. NOBODY in my family or my husbands family is vegetarian, NOBODY at work, and it just gets frustrating sometimes being the only one. But I decided to make this change for the animals. So I have to keep going because of them. WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!

Hey Mug! I switched to vegan just about a month ago and it's been fabulous! I really can't say enough good stuff about it. I'm living according to my personal beliefs, I'm learning more about nutrition then I ever thought I would know and my health is most certainly improving!

Cheese - I would never have believed this if someone had told me before I switched but after about a week and a half you don't crave it anymore. Read up on the dairy industry and that'll likely kill your cravings on the spot!

Family and Friends - I'm pretty lucky and most are supportive but they can be weird about it. I've found stating what I will and will not consume, wear or use in a nice, polite yet firm way is the best approach. Unfortunatly some will try to disuase you but arm yourself with knowledge and you'll be fine.

Your Health - Read some books, surf the net but make sure you're getting all your protein, vitamins and minerals.

Ask questions!! I hope you switch over as it's been a very positive experience for me. Threre are people on here that have been doing it much longer and can answer pretty much any questions you have!