everyone around me (bar my vegetarian friends) are telling me how bad this will make me feel and how I 'need' the meat!  I have been anaemic in the past (due to giving too much blood, I think) so they are all worried about me.  I understand this but I am not going in with my eyes closed, I know I need iron, protein etc etc so I am planning my meals clearly.  Anyone else find this negative attitude from friends??  Its slightly frustrating.

So loving the flirting and all the meals in the book, amazing, though I do have to convert all the measurements into UK weights and measures.  The book is now covered in pencil notes! 

Ta for any tips

L

I work in the medical field as a nurse; and one of the first things our unit nurse practioner said was, "make sure you get enough calcium and vit D."  I didn't go into it w/ her and just said, "okay."  I have been vegan for 6 months (veg for 2 years) and I just had blood work done, and everything was perfect.  My iron level was 269, which is higher than the reference range (by 69 points), my ferritin was 22, which is w/in range, my vit B12 was 463, which is w/in range.  My calcium was 9.4 which is right dab in the middle of the reference range, and my Vit D was 60, which is right in the middle of range. (Note: the ranges I am going by are the reference ranges given to me by the lab that performed my bloodwork).  I had other work done as well, and all was perfectly fine; these are some of the highlights.

The biggest thing w/ vegan is that you need to do your research so you know what you need to be eating.  Beans are awesome and have tons of good stuff in them.  Nuts are great, as well as all green veggies.  Do you research and carefully balance your food throughout the day.  Also, remember every body responds differently.  Maybe you will "need" meat, but try this and see how you feel.  I don't feel tired at all, in fact I run 1/2 marathons and feel awesome.

You will know what you need.  Good luck and enjoy the journey!

Laura

Thanks for response Laura, infact I work in a hospital lab, but in the UK, we have different reference ranges, but I know exactly what you are talking about.   Small world!  I run 1/2 marathons too, got one in september!!  I am not sure about going 100% vegan yet but being veggie seems to agree with me so far!  I am feeling fine on this diet, I am feeling more awake when I wake up and more alert.  I think its people being afraid that I am making this major change when they dont see the need for it. 

The only major problem for me at the mo is the washing up!! I used to rely on pre-made sauces etc, living on my own it was easier but now I am cooking every night and taking leftovers into work and it means lots of washing up!!  But I did get people at work to try quinoa, which they all liked, I am preading the word. 

I know I am doing better for my body and I feel better, plus I have lost 4 pounds, so I am sticking with it.

Thanks for your advice, its nice to know I am not alone!

Lx

I got an earful from an aunt of mine when I told her that I was following a vegan diet...and she is vegetarian herself!!!! Most of my relatives are vegetarian cos of religious reasons so I never thought I would have to deal with anti-veganism. Was so shocked.. I was confident about the choices I had made however and I felt better as a result of them so now I feel people can say what the want and I will be polite and listen to them but it doesn't affect me. You couldn't pay me to go back now! And if they ever do get to me I just have to come back to this site to realise why I chose to be vegan in the first place. 

On a side note, washing up is the big pain of cooking.. I would suggest music in the kitchen- whatever works, throw it on and dance/sing at loud and it will detract from the chore.

Here's the great thing about plant-derived iron: it is only absorbed when it is needed.  The iron from meat gets absorbed no matter what which can cause huge problems and iron overload.  Plant iron is great in that you only get what you really need.  Sounds pretty perfect to me!

You are not alone with the negative comments, we all get them!  Just take them in stride and build up your collection of great explanations as to why you have chosen this path in life. 

Thanks for your support guys! Its nice to be understood! 

Seena -  I always have music on but I seem to dance rather than wash up!! lol! and then the suds get on the floor!! Its so good that I live on my own! :D

If I were you, I'd remind my friends and family that while I really appreciate their concern, it's my body and you're trying a treatment for your life and anemia that you think we'll help. You'd like their support in that. 

If I were you, I'd also print out information about anemia and vegan diets so as to alleviate their concerns and let them know that you'd love to help them understand more about what and why you're doing what you are doing. 

Let them know that, just as you respect their right to make their own dietary decisions, they should respect yours.  I mean, you aren't telling them that they "need" to be vegan, right?

If they seem like they have an open enough mind to actually discuss the topic, then by all means share your information with them.  As friends, they are probably more concerned for your health rather than purposefully trying to inhibit your success.  But, if they seem to be set in their ways, I would just wait and let time do its work.  Time will prove that the vegan diet is not only adequate but far better for personal health than an omnivorous one.  :)

I had a similar reaction from my father, which was completely shocking.  He was a vegetarian for 15 years!  He told me that even when he was a vegetarian he always "knew" veganism was an inadequate diet.  I find it bizarre that the general public seems to think that animal products are the only source of iron...wonder where that ideology came from.

Reading all the posts made me realize that I wake easier and there is no time needed to 'get in the groove.'  Thanks for helping me see things that I haven't really noticed.  Little things lead to big changes.