I want to become a vegan, personal help?!
I want personal data that cant be found on sites. Are vegans considered "boring" or "extremist" ? All that stuff.
p.s. No "don't go vegan" stuff please, except with reasoning. I'd like to hear all ideas.
Answers: I want to become a vegan and I know I can find all the sources around the net, but what I want to know is for other vegans to tell me what are some things that I really should take into consideration before deciding to go Vegan? Social-wise, money-wise, etc.
I want personal data that cant be found on sites. Are vegans considered "boring" or "extremist" ? All that stuff.
p.s. No "don't go vegan" stuff please, except with reasoning. I'd like to hear all ideas.
I must admit the hardest thing is other people's opinions of you. Most people don't understand the vegan lifestyle and have a negative view of us even if they've never met a vegan before! My best advice would be to just speak about it when others bring it up... tell them your views if they ask about them but don't go off on one if they don't agree with you. I've never done this myself or met anyone who has but everyone thinks we're like this. Although people are ignorant, don't let other people's opinions put you off. If you truly want to become a vegan then it's a great opportunity to show others that we're not crazy!
Money wise... I've actually saved a lot since turning vegan because healthy food is actually quite cheap! The most expensive thing I buy is flaxeed which I need for omega 3 and fatty acids. It lasts ages though so it actually works out as quite cheap.
Feel free to ask anything else that will help you make a decision. Whatever you decide, make sure you do it for yourself and that it's right for you.
If you want to go ahead become Vegan but just if you want to! You should know what's right for you!
I respect Vegans cause they have to do more of an effort to get the right foods than Vegetarians!
Vegetarians have it easy compared to Vegans!
Vegans.. can't get dairy, can't eat eggs, can't use or wear anything that is made of animal! Vegan life can be very expensive.. that's why I'm vegetarian and I also I like eggs and the occasional cheese that's free of animal rennant!
The vegan lifestyle, despite popular opinion is not difficult or expensive. The first week might take a little more thought than usual at the store, but once you've got it down it's simple.
The best advice I can give you is to never bring it up unless you really have to. If people bring pizza in to work, you can just say "No, thanks" without adding "I'm vegan" at the end. Even in 2007, people still have mistrust, ignorance, and downright hostility towards veganism that surprises me. Sometimes people will see you doing something good for yourself, the animals, and the planet and will feel guilty about their own habits and will take your mere existence as an affront to them. It's like by you telling them you're vegan, you're telling them you're a good person and they aren't. This can make people really defensive and hostile.
Good luck!
most people die of natural causes anyway vegan or meat eater!!! give me more thumbs down to those afraid to accept the fact!!!! Who really cares if you are a vegan so go on eat like a rabbit!!!!!
make sure you get enough vitamin b12. can be found in supplements etc but if you dont want these then i think tartex pate, guinness and marmite all have it. good luck with your choice
You need to figure out your own beliefs and what you're ok and not ok with, THEN pick the label that fits them (if there is one), not the other way around.
If you need people to convince you one way or the other, then you aren't going by your own beliefs.
No, it's not difficult. Social-wise, I don't care. I've never been one to conform. Unless you're wishy-washy or not very firm in your beliefs, it won't be hard. I don't have a hard time finding food I will eat, if that's what you're asking. I don't give a **** if I'm found "boring" or "extremist". I don't do it for anyone but myself.
Most people have no reason to even know I'm vegan, so their judgement of me doesn't have to be based on my diet. I'm sure there are people with preconceived notions that vegans are extreme or whatever, but I really don't care. If someone's going to judge me without knowing anything else about me, that's really a reflection on them, not me.
My friends are real friends and none of them make an issue out of my dietary choices (and, of course, I don't make an issue out of theirs.) So, it really doesn't impact me socially.
You might want to read a book called "Vegan Freak" - it's basically about surviving as a vegan in a non-vegan world (everything from dealing with hostile relatives to keeping yourself fed on a road trip.) It's worth a look if it's that kind of info you're looking for.
Basically, if you believe in it, the decision is surprisingly easy. If you don't, then I'd think it would be a lot harder to deal with judgemental people and whatnot.