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Want to be vegan, why is it so hard!
Started
by Honeybee
on September 18, 2011
I'm so frustrated with myself. I went vegan for a few weeks months back to see if it would change how I feel, and it totally did. I felt better than I have in years, my IBS was under control, I had more energy and was happier. Then I got pregnant and couldn't handle the cravings, and was tempted by my emotional connection to some foods- as if the idea of not eating them again was worth more than how good I was feeling. Right now I'm 6 months pregnant, and making the transition back again. I'm just worried about the emotional and physical pull to cheese, or steak or whatever. With me it's particularly with cheese and steak. I could care less about poutlry, pig or anything else. I have read an enormous amount of literature on the subject, and I feel disgusted with the idea of eating these products... why isn't that enough to just STOP Wanting them!
I will tell you it is very hard to resist those pregnancy urges. I've been vegan for two years now, before that vegetarian for 18 years- except while pregnant! For one thing, I just could not stay full. But also, the sudden, weird, inexplicable and almost irresistible urges hit me with each pregnancy, though much less with my last child (who is 4) than with my first two (ages 13 and 10). So even though I can tell you that after each pregnancy I wished I had held fast to my resolve, I don't want to be a hypocrite and tell you that you have to do what I couldn't. But truly, if there was one thing about my pregnancies that I could change, that would be it.
Not sure this will be any help to you as I've never had to deal with pregnancy cravings, but here's what helped me. I'm French, and so the idea of never eating cheese again was (and sometimes still is) too much for me to handle... My trick was to just say "I decide not to have any cheese TODAY". Just knowing that I could have cheese tomorrow if I wanted to was enough to make it bearable for the day. I struggled with it EVERY SINGLE DAY for the first few weeks/months I went vegan. It's now been 9 months, and I haven't had that piece of cheese yet...
Cheese is a tough thing to stay away from, steak can be too for some people. It's tough but there are alternatives. I make a delicious vegan cheese sauce and freeze it for when I really want something cheesy. There are also some good vegan cheeses out there, I personally love the nut cheeses the best.
Cravings can be killer, especially with cheese because it is so addictive. Take it easy on yourself and go for one day at a time. If you fall off the wagon, nobody will judge you if you pick yourself up again.
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