The KInd Life Community Forum

Hi all. I've been vegan for a little under two months now (or I was, but I'll get to that in a second). I was doing pretty much everything the book recommended. I was eating mostly grains, beans, veggies and fruits, nuts. Very little processed, plenty of protein, and lots of good fresh produce. I was also taking a b12 supplement a couple of times a week. Here are the results that I started seeing after about a month:

- My skin looked terrible. My forehead especially was broken out. This is very noteable because I've been blessed with pretty good skin and never before struggled with break-outs, not even in my teens.

- Major head rushes every time I stood up, like my blood pressure was too low.

- Exhaustion. I usually don't struggle with low energy, but I was truly exhausted.

- Muscle weakness. It felt like my muscles were getting weaker by the day. I could no longer lift heavy things that used to be no problem for me.

- Weight gain. In a little under two months, I gained about five pounds. Again, this is noteable because my weight usually doesn't fluctuate much at all.

So, with all this going on, and desperate to feel better, I tried a little experiment. I bought some eggs, cheese, and a little fish and re-introduced them to my diet. In just three days of getting these things back into my diet, my energy has sky-rocketed, my muscles feel stronger, my skin has started to clear up, and I've lost a pound and a half. I feel like myself again.

What on earth does this all mean??? I wanted to be vegan, because I believe in the value of the lifestyle, but I feel like my body was trying to send me a very loud, clear message that this wasn't the right choice for me. I've always believed that food choices aren't a one-size-fits-all kind of deal, since we all have such different bodies and lifestyles. I'm beginning to think that maybe this just isn't for me.

Has anyone else had this experience?

It could be detox, could be allergy, or maybe it is that vegan lifestyle isn't for anyone... I simply dont know... What you could ask yourself is, did you eat foods you never ate before, or is there stress in your life that wasn't there before. If so you could look at them and for exemple eat vegan without that food, or look at a certain situation.

Also you might look for professional help, a foodcounsellor, holistic dietist... I think that people here can give a lot of answers and i've seen it in a lot of threads now, the one says this, the other that... and it is difficult to know what is going on. So i would go find a specialist that you can talk to....

Good luck!

This sounds exactly like what I was going through in detox. Especially the bad skin and head rushes. I also had severe shakiness. I figured out that because of the purity of the food, it was moving through me much more quickly, so there was not a constant source of blood sugar as there had been before. I solved it by carrying a small stash of nuts and chopped dates with me. I always felt better after a mouthful of this. It took me about two months to clean out. I found I could increase the rate of the detox by focusing on the dark green leafy veggies. I ate collards/broccolini/mustard greens/turnip greens three times a day -- yes, even breakfast. Also the importance of including beans cannot be stressed enough. You have got to get your protein. Quinoa is also very high in protein. Do not cook it in water -- boring. Try Veganomicon's Chick Pea-Quinoa Pilaf -- tomato paste, cumin, ahhh! I made a big batch and ate it hot or cold, alone or on a salad. So delish!

This may not be the right fit for you, but I would say, give it another chance. Detox is tough and can last a while. It will pass so much more quickly with the dark greens eaten throughout the day and also LOTS of fresh water. Good luck!

Hi Melissa!

I would say don't give it up yet. Personally, I went through very similar things minus the weight gain. I have been vegan for litterally 1 1/2 months and up until 2 weeks ago my skin was crazy! Before I went vegan I was certainly addicted to cheese and ate a lot of chicken and turkey, at least two meals a day. My chin, back, and cheeks broke out so bad I couldn't stand it! Litterally almost over night my skin cleared up and I have started feeling absolutely amazing. I really think that it's the detox. I dont crave a single animal by product anymore because i'm so completely satisfied with everything else that i've been eating (loads of grains, fresh veggies and fruits, etc.) and my body looks amazing! I dropped the extra weight that I've been trying to get rid of for nearly two years in about a week and a half and I just feel phenominal. I'd say give it another try and just wait it out. The results are so worth it!

Hi melissa,

Are you getting enough magnesium? Sometimes a low magnesium level can leave you with no energy. But definately look at what you're eating to make sure everything you need is there. Good luck :)