Considering becoming vegan?!
I honestly see this as my only way of getting back the control over my diet that I seem to have lost to me eating disorder-- and I'm desperate.
How do I tell her? I don't want to talk about my eating disorder at all I just want her to see this as a healthy option. I know she won't do it with me but I don't want that to stop me. I brought it up tonight, she mentioned I would have to eat tofu and then changed the subject...
Thank you in advance for your help :)
Answers:
Hi Emily, this is a great question. Because people mistakenly believe that vegetarianism and veganism makes you stick thin and unhealthy, there are some people who do use it to mask an eating disorder. Since your mum knows you've had this problem in the past, she may worry and I don't blame her for doing so and you also seem to understand how she could make that assumption.
The thing is, veganism isn't a weight loss gimmick so just going vegan in and of itself won't make you lose weight. Of course, if you don't eat properly and skimp on calories, you will lose weight...just like when you eat meat and skimp.
My suggestion to you is to stick to your beliefs. If you really aren't going vegan to cover up an eating disorder relapse, then that's all that should matter: what YOU know. And if you go vegan and eat well, you won't look waif thin and instead will look, feel and be very healthy.
If you need some help convincing mum or have specific nutrient questions, feel free to contact me.
I find the hardest part is making things (baked goods, or coating something with bread crumbs) without the use of eggs to be quite difficult but I've still mastered a delicious vegan chocolate cake. It is a challenge but is very fun to come up with new foods to eat
Best of Luck!!! Books have helped me!
Try vegetarian first then move on to vegan. That is what I am doing at the moment and it's not quite a shock. Check out
the kind diet -alicia silverstone
It's all about becoming vegan...but in 3 different stages.
:)
Buy a good vegan cookbook and try out the recipes. Invite your mother over for a vegan dinner and the great food will do the rest. A few good vegan cookbooks are: Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook, Vegan Planet, Vegan Soul Kitchen and Vegan with a Vengeance. These cookbooks will not only give you good recipes, they will tell you about all things vegan. I'm assuming you have basic cooking skills, but, if you know absolutely nothing, just take her out to a reputable vegan restaurant (vegan, not vegetarian as they are more common) I suggest against a restaurant that isn't dedicated to vegan food and serves meat etc. I'd give you a few good ones but, I don't know your location. Nevertheless, good luck.
I'm not a vegan or vegetarian myself, but I have a lot of experience eating and cooking vegan food.
Most of the books I’ve read and diets I have studied have been appalling. Horrible when someone is depriving themselves and having such a hard time with a protocol and you know they are only setting themselves up for failure. I must say, of all the programs I have read, Diet Solution is by far and away the best, most complete, most balanced, most natural and most sustainable. I employ essentially the same principals when working with my own clients – whether their goal is weightloss, disease prevention or disease recovery. Great book, great tips, great recipes, and great information,This program is for people who are serious about permanent weight loss. For more information visit their site.
http://www.fatlossmeal.com
You could tell her that it is a healthy option that you have researched and adopted. Show her how you will successfully plan a healthy vegan diet by listing the foods that you will eat as well as some meals. Most parents are concerned that you will get all of the nutrients that you need. The basic concerns are complete proteins, iron and the B vitamins. Complete proteins are contained in beans and rice. B vitamins are supplied by whole grains. Iron can be received from raw beets and spinach juices, as well as the veggies themselves. I hope that it all works out.
well i think you should try to be healthy as a first off. thats the most important. being vegan doesnt always mean healthy. you have to consider all the protiens and vitamins in every day dairy and meat. not to say there arnt vegan alternatives. i mean if you dont like meat or other things your not forced to eat them but being vegan is just a label and it also means that you can have things like geletin or gummy bears or marshmallows or honey because they all have some process with animals. i think you should view it as what is best for your personal health and wellbeing before you consider lables. maybe on the mom thing just make sure she knows why your doing it and maybe at first dont give up everything at once.
just eat a big steak and forget about that vegan bs.