Im 16, i just started the vegan diet last sunday, so exactly a week ago. I have an eating disorder, and have been maintaining my weight for a little over a year now. i'm not allowed to lose any weight or i get sent to therapy. My mom is on board with me being a vegan, as long as i continue to eat enough calories. I ate about 1,800 calories a day & maintained my weight before becoming vegan. I've cut out all dairty & meat and replaced it with their vegan alternatives, but i feel like shit! I have absolutely no energy and my body is achy & im constantly nauseous. is this detox or something more serious?
Also, am i going to lose weight by eating vegan? I dont want to gain any AT ALL, but i also really cant lose. If i continue to eat the same number of calories should i continue to maintain my weight?
& how can i start feeling better! I feel like i did 2 years ago when i was starving! help =/

First off, congrats for being able to conquer the eating disorder and maintain your weight for over a year! That's awesome. When I was first transitioning to a vegan diet, i felt pretty bad for a couple weeks as well, and based off of this website, i understand most everyone does.  I think it is just the natural detox, and your body getting used to such whole, natural foods. So keep it up, after a little bit you'll feel even better than you did in the first place! Most people lose weight on a healthy vegan diet, but it also varies for different people depending on how much extra weight you are carrying and how your diet was before you converted to vegan. If you are cutting out a lot of processed foods, sugars, and unhealthy fats, you will lose weight. But if you include enough of the more filling foods like whole grains and beans along with veggies, i think you will still be able to maintain your weight while reaping the benefits of a vegan diet. Just eat when you're hungry and you should be good :)

Hey. I hope you have enough perserverance and will power to trust your body and stick through its natural process of revitalizing itself. Instead of replacing the meat and dairy options, try switching it out for whole grain and green leaves. I love brown rice and any kind of green leaf (mostly spinach) but it helps me feel satisfied and energetic. A lot of times these things become cliche but it's one of those things that when you practice it enough, and open your mind to the experience, it really changes your experience. Trust your body, it knows what it's doing!  And on those days that you feel like shit, try breathing exercises so you can really feel what your body is trying to tell you. Truth be told, I spend a lot of time on the internet trying to find out what's wrong with me, but you won't find out what's wrong with from external sources. Trust yourself, and be strong!!!

Oh and stop counting calories, there's no need for that when you eat the food you are supposed to eat! And it will get your mom and therapist off your mind because they'll see that your whole mentality of your body image has changed.

I know you mean well, and i really wish i could, but i just cant stop counting calories. So people please dont try & tell me how to stop my eating disorder, because i cant. i just need help with what ive got, although i do appreciate your concerns. thanks =)

Hi Kimberly, congratulations on all your progress.  I think that for me going vegan has actually taken some of the stress away from eating and figuring out what to eat, which seems counter-intuative, but I am usually confident that I will like the food and it will nourish me.  I am so sorry you aren't feeling well.  That is different from my detox experience.  I had headaches and was a little bloated and broke out on my face, but it might be different for everyone.  A few months in I started feeling something new, I was itchy and a little bit nauseous.  I finally got my vitamins D and B12 and I have felt better ever since.  I think especially vitamin D deficiency could maybe cause symptoms like yours.  As for maintaining your current weight, you shouldn't really lose weight if you keep eating the same amount of calories.  Adding a little bit more healthy fats like avacado or walnuts can add calories if you feel like youve had enough to eat.  Also, try and work in whole grains and minimally processed protiens, like beans, peas, lentils, quinoa, edemame, tofu, tempeh and seitan (instead of frozen meat alternatives).  Listen to your body if you are hungry and keep healthy things around you to make it easier.  I hope you feel better!

Hi Kimberly. I am by far not a professional, and do not struggle with an eating disorder. My problem is just that I love food, and eat too much of it, if I am not careful.  I know that you may not even be able to identify when you are hungry, and when you are not. I also struggle with this, however I am getting better at it with journaling. Counting calories is something I have to do as well, so I do not go over or under. Although I do try to listen to my body, that is not enough for me.
Do you keep a journal? I assume that if you are counting calories, you are keeping track of what you eat to some degree. I keep track of what I am eating, and then how I feel afterwards. This is very helpful for me, and maybe a good idea to help you. Make sure your meals are balanced. I think the vitamin suggestions are really good ones. This could be part of it.
Are you exercising? Hopefully you are, and if you are, you are make sure to up your calories appropriately so that you are no depleating yourself in this way. I exercise, and I always increase my calories a little bit, and drink a mineral water afterwards. I find that this helps me feel better.
-Ellie

I am anemic and have to really watch my iron.. if I don't get enough I start feeling run down and get headaches... just a thought.

Kimberly,
It seems that what you are experiencing is normal for detox.  I am going through the exact same thing.  Hang in there.

Jamie

hey kimberly, i just wanted to let you know that i am a 25 year old who, as a teen and into my early twenties, also had an eating disorder, and i am on the other side of it--the thinking is present but there is a way to be on top of it as opposed to being in the middle of it.
i think everybody's right--you're detoxing--but i wanted to let you know, if you ever need to talk to somebody you are welcome to ask me anything or talk to me.  and i think you're right.  at this point, to make sure that you are remaining healthy, it's smart that you're counting calories to make sure you're eating enough.
take care.

Hey Kimberly,
I just wanted to say that you could go to a Nutritionist and explain what you want and they will help you figure out an appropriate menu/way of eating that will help you maintain your goals.
I also believe that you may be experiencing detox and just wait it out - drink plenty of water and get some rest if you can.
Feel better soon :)
Jess

Hi Kimberly- I would love to get an update on how your feeling since your post several days ago?  I am rooting for you and hope that the detox beast has eased up a bit!!  Best of luck!!

Make sure you are eating enough calories and wait out the detox period (it can last for more than two weeks depending on your eating habits before, and the way your body processes and sheds toxins). That said, eating vegan/superhero CAN (emphasis) be restricting and time consuming in the beginning (not to mention may cause obsessive traits to worsen regarding food) and you don't want to aggravate your disorder with another eating plan that creates stress. Just eat a variety of foods and make sure you aren't losing any weight. I hope that you can get to the place where you are beyond counting calories and are eating healthy without thinking about it - with hard work and time, you will. Much luck.

I've just started becoming vegetearian im still flirting with the vegan aspect.

just keep at it!  try to do some yoga to stretch your muscles out and keep them relaxed it may help with being achy and drink lots of water. if your feeling like you have no energy make sure your getting enough protein.

its great that you have maintained your weight for this long, it will be no problem with loosing or gaining. but just make sure when you are counting your calories your not just stopping because you have reached your max level.because the diet you are on wont make you gain weight, your metabolism will speed up with getting the right foods.

Hi Kimberly,
Do you think you are eating enough veggies and fruits?  Also nuts, seeds and avocadoes.  I don't know if I am a lucky one or what but I have gone mostly vegan (just a touch of dairy now and then when I eat certain meals with my family) in two months.  Before I was an omnivore (Jan 2010 so recent!).  I feel great.  But why I really wrote in is I think there is a great book for you and your mom to read, Disease Proof Your Children by Joel Fuhrman.  I got my copy at the library to read.  It will tell you all the great things to eat for optimal health and enjoyment.  I found the book via John Robbins whom I found via The Kind Diet.  Please read this book if you are able and I hope it will answer many of your questions about a healthy diet.  I am so sorry I did not have this book earlier for the sake of my children but at least I have found it now.  The Kind Diet is a great book, it's changed my life, and I just picked it up on a lark.  But the Fuhrman book has really helped me understand how to put a similar diet (plant based) in place for my children that is for the benefit of their health now and in the future.
PS--This book is a great read even if you don't have children!