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Not feeling as great as the rest of you.....
Started
by Kindone
on December 2, 2009
I have cut out all meats, and most dairy. Still can't cut the cord with cheese, but am trying. I don't see any real improvements in my skin, no weight loss, and I still feel lathargic? Is dairy the real key?
I exercise 6 days a week-run, walk, strength train, etc.
Please let me know your thoughts and recommendations.
Thanks,
Kindone
hi kindone, it can't hurt to try cutting out cheese to see if thats it, i also started feeling a lot better when i cut way back on processed foods, olive oil, and sodium and really upped my green vegetable intake, as soon as i did that i started losing weight consistently and feel fantastic, no more headaches, my stomach feels great, better moods. with all that exercise make sure you're getting enough protein.
In my experience cutting out cheese really is important. I have always had a healthy diet with not much dairy but since I cut out every single animal product the weight is falling off. My skin has been breaking out a bit but it has only been 8 weeks vegan and my body tends to detox slowly so I am hoping it goes away soon. I eat a very tiny bit of processed food like gardein or field roast but I basically don't eat out so I have more control about what goes into my food. I wouldn't really worry about the lethargy unless it sticks around. Some people instantly feel the energy while other peoples bodies just need more rest to process the changes. Good luck!
How long have you been eating this new diet? It can take a couple of weeks to notice any change. And, you also need to make sure that you are eating a balanced diet. It is common, especially among teens, to 'go veg' and completely forget to 'go healthy' as well. Those peanut butter cups and rice krispie bars are amazing, but they are not a good main source of nutrition.
I have just started the vegan diet, but do know that when I detox (twice a year) on a macrobiotic diet, I can feel pretty crappy for the first 5 - 6 days. I'm counting on not ever having to detox again as this diet is pretty much a detox in itself. (Not counting the sweet yummies)
There are some really good vegan cheeses available. You may want to give them a try.
If you have been on the diet for two or three weeks and it is well balanced and you still feel poorly, you should probably consult a doctor. Of course, a naturopath or other holistic doctor would be my first choice, as they are more likely to support your diet choices.
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Aw Kind One, each in her own time and way, right? :) I'm in absolutely no position to give counsel, I'm still learning bigtime - I'll simply say just KNOW you're doing the right thing and it'll come. In the meanwhile, I'm reminded of a line from "Divine Secrets of the Yaya Sister": "You just got to let the child
feel the way she feel." Let yourself adjust and "feel the way you feel"
Hi Kindone,
Individuals have varied responses to changes in nutrition. We tend to see quick and dramatic change when things are working correctly vis a vie your individual needs. f you can conceive of the idea of getting off all dairy for two weeks or so you may start to experience what you are looking for. The overall best approach is to jump in to The Superhero plan.
I would reccommend cutting out the cheese. It is soo addictive..cheese was by far the hardest thing for me to cut. But I noticed the most improvement after I stopped cheese. I will say that..it sounds like you are detoxing a bit though. I have been vegan now for a month and a half. For the first week I felt fine after just cutting meat...then I cut the dairy and I felt like crap. I actually felt weak and was a little shaky...after not having had it for 4 days. Because I saw my body was doing that in response to taking cheese away..it made me stick with it. I knew something was happening and it showed me just how addicted I was to dairy. Alicia talked about detoxing in her book and how it happens but can be different for each person. After 2 weeks of being dairy free and meatfree I went from 134lbs to 128lbs. Look at what you are eating too. Try to avoid all the processed vegan foods as much as possible. You should try to do more cooking. I know how easy it can be to load up on the crap when you feel like you are "off" or missing something when you cut a certain food so be careful. Stick with it and follow Alicia's pointers.
Also, just to add my two cents, try upping your WHOLE GRAINS... make sure you are eating at least 2 servings (a serving is 1 cup of cooked whole grain according to USDA, but only 1/2 a cup of cooked grains according to Dr. Weil, though he recommends 3-5 servings a day) of whole grains a day. This will give you energy.
I will often make a big batch of whatever I'm making, be it oatmeal or brown rice, and keep it in the fridge so I can make quick meals over the next couple days. I find the biggest issue with whole grains is the cooking time.
The dairy for me seems to make the difference in my skin. I caved a few times thansgiving week and broke out, when my skin had been great. Also, give it a little time, I don't know how long you've been doing it but it takes a couple weeks. As far as weight loss, if your young and already exercising, you may need to think about it you need to lose weight anyways. The more weight you need to truly lose, the faster it initially comes off. If you are at a healthyy weight already, you may lose a few lbs., but it won't happen in a week like a person that needs to lose 50 (like me). Keep going, cut out the cheese, and make sure you're not eating many processed foods, just b/c they're vegan, they may not be healthy. Good luck!
I cut out meat and dairy cold turkey two weeks ago. I'm into my third week and haven't noticed any changes.. what's wrong? :( I am eating grains and more veggies, maybe not as many veggies as would be 100% beneficial but my skin is still not clear and I haven't lost any weight. You would think cutting out this crap would help since I am also overweight!
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