Going Vegetarian for Lent

[sophistacavy]

Lent is like 40 days or something like that, right? Is 40 days or so enough to feel benefits from being vegetarian?

Also, I've heard about this one certain amino acid that humans need, and that it can supposedly only be found it meat. Is this true? I don't want to be lacking in something important...

Also, I have weight question. Will I lose weight if I go vegetarian for about 40 days? If I start to lose weight, how do I stop it without gaining too much weight back? I basically don't want to lose too much weight, that is not my goal here.

I also have cravings sometimes for certain foods, and sometimes I have problems with my level of fullness, or satisfation after eating a meal. I seriously do not want to feel deprived or hungry, or have extra cravings. I might overeat junk food or something like that, you know how it goes hehe.

This is an odd question, but will my bowel movements/poop change? I tend to have hard poops that sometimes plug up the toilet, and I might not have a bowel movement as often as is normal, so will going veggie for 40 or so days help with that? I mean, will I go more often, and will my bowel movements be softer and less likely to plug up the toilet?

I was also wondering if this could affect my period. I have some sort of condition that is called amenorrhea. I have my period extremely unpredictably, it might be roughly every 4-6 months. I tried keeping track of it on the calendar, but it never really follows the so called rules L0L. Also, I tend to have moderate-heavy whenever I get my period. So, I am pretty much asking if this vegetarian thing could regulate me.

I actually don't want my period, I am quite content with this condition. If you ever get the chance to choose a condition to have, choose this one. I asked my OB-GYN, and he said I could still get pregnant when the time came for that, so....this is the best condition ever!

Well, that's about it for now. If I have more questions, I'll post them.

Thanks in advance, and sorry if some of what I said was too graphic!

[sophistacavy]

I just realized form a friend that Lent is already well under-way. Wow, I can't believe I missed it! But, I guess I can just take that 30-day pledge that PETA does.

I just thought of some more possible health-related issues that I would like to know if they can be affected for better or for worse if I go vegetarian. One of those is low blood sugar, and another is low blood pressure. I have both, and I was thinking that perhaps vegetarians consume less sodium/salt than non-vegetrain people, so I wouldn't want to worsen my low blood pressure, but I also figured that I can add salt to whatever I make with tofu.
Plus, the already made/prepackaged "meats" made from tofu, in the grocery stores, probably have salt added, right?

Now, I'm not sure how vegetarian diets affect low blood sugar, but I figured it would one way or the other, so....if anyone has any insight on that, that would be great if you could share it here. I know about the whole glycemic index thing, but I'm not sure if vegetarian diets are low glycemic index or not (I'm thinking they are).

Again, if I think of any more questions, I will post them here.
Thanks in advance!

[starshine123102]

When I was a vegetarian I weighed more than I do now as a non-veg. about 10 pounds more.

Cravings are what eventually broke me. I just really really wanted bacon one morning, and I just kind of gave it up. I don't really eat meat that much now, maybe 2-3 times a week.

I also never had any anemia problems while I was veggie. It was high enough that I was abele to give blood, and did so on multiple occasions.

Not sure how it would affect your other issues. But, as usual, it will affect everyone differently. I suggest you talk with your doctor and ob-gyn about some of these concerns as they will have the most insight about you and how these dietary changes will affect you.

[hilary]

I've been a vegan for almost two years now, and I did lose about 5 pounds when I first started. I'm leaner than I used to be, but definitely I did not lose too much weight. I'm pretty small naturally, so other people I have heard can lose up to 10.

I'm not sure about the bowel movements exactly, but I haven't had a problem with it so maybe it does help with more veggies.

As for periods, I don't get mine at all. Though this is due to starting the pill a year ago and not getting them while on it, so my doctor has told me to skip the placebos and takes the packs straight through. I've been vegan the whole time I've been on bc and my period has not come back, even trying the placebos once in a while to see how my body reacts.

My reccomendation is to get a vegan/vegetarian multivitamin to make sure you're getting all the nutrients you need, but of course they'll be from all plant based foods. I use Rainbow Light brand. Mine are called the Just Once (the ones with iron, though they also make them without) multivitamin. On the back it says veganguard at the bottom, which means it's totally vegan.

I would try the 30 day veg pledge, I did two years ago and that's what got me so interested in vegetarianism and then a month later veganism. I'm not trying to preach, so I hope I don't come off that way, I just think it's a great thing you wanna try out being a vegetarian. If it's not for you, you'll realize it. If it is, even better. I did have some cravings at first, but I was doing it for myself only and not to prove anything to other people, and I stuck with it. This isn't the case with everyone, but believe me 30 days goes by fast.

If you'd like suggestions for easy recipes, or store bought meals/snacks that are vegan or vegetarian, just shoot me a PM and I'd be happy to help.

Sorry I couldn't answer all your medical questions, try doing a search on theppk.com which is a forum site like this. I believe you have to be a member to search, but you'll find great answers there.

[AnimalHouse36]

I'll try to answer your questions best I can.

My cravings stopped after about a month. I know some people have to live with it for as longa s their veggie. The only problems I have is bacon...and that pre-made chicken you buy from the store. I just hink it smells amazing but I would never have it.

When your veggie, you require more food to fill yourself up. So if you have a veggie burger, I would suggest two. I did rely on junk food for a bit after I went veggie. Just ask your mom to keep more veggie and fruits in the house for you to snack on instead.

I didn't lose much weight. Maybe a couple pounds but not much at all. I think it all depends on the body.

[guineapigluver1]

I lost nothing at all. Mainly due to the fact that I had already gotten rid of my extra weight because I finally got rid of my thyroid goiter(sp?) and because I didn't eat much meat anyways.
There are a lot of factors as to whether you will lose weight or not. Like how much and what do you eat. One could be a vegetarian and eat total junk, or you could eat lots of healthy things. Same with if you aren't a vegetarian.
I do still have cravings for these two things with meat in them (I believe they are mini tacos from Sams club and beef something, can't remember what the second word was, those are the only two things though), but my mom almost never buys them. She did get them one time after I went veg and it took a lot of self control, but I didn't eat it. I just thought about other things, as well as how terrible the cow was treated before s/he was killed. Didn't want it anymore after that.
I went cold turkey, but a lot of people do it gradually.

[sophistacavy]

Wow, thank you so much to everyone who has replied so far! It's good to know not to expect to lose much weight, if any.

Yeah, we were having chicken parts (like you get with fried chicken, but these weren't breaded) the other night, and my mom gave me this jointed part which I don't know the name of, but you could sit there and play with it.
It just looked too much like the cat I had continued to dissect earlier that day (we had to cut into the muscles to reach deeper ones....it was lovely L0L). I also discovered that if I tried to gently move the cat's hindlegs like she was walking, then we could see how the muscles worked much better.

So, this moveable chicken part was just too gross. I didn't eat that one. Then I started noticing the things we had identified on our cat (I'm working with my best friend), except it was the chicken version. You can still see striations on the cooked meat, it's just harder to see them. I saw connective things, and some fat. The little bit of fat was like the last straw, because the particular girl cat I'm dissecting happens to have loads of fat (she didn't appear fat at all until we got inside a bit!), and cat and chicken fat look the same, so....you get the idea.

I think I'll try going cold turkey, but if it gets too hard, I'll sort of start over and do it gradually. I'm already at an advantage in some ways, because
1. I never eat seafood
2. I never have meat for breakfast
3. I never have meat for snacks.

So, hopefully it won't be a difficult transition. Yay two burgers! L0L I don't think I'll have too much trouble eating extra than usual to fill me up.
Oh, bacon is definetely a weak spot for me. I never have it at home, only sometimes if we go out to dinner at a restaurant that serves breakfast stuff. I think I'll be able to forget about bacon, since I'm actually not exposed to it that often at all.

That's very good to know/helpful about the multi-vitamin's, Hilary. I'll have to check the one I take now, and the other one we were going to switch too to see how they're different. Or, if either brand offers a vegetarian multi-vitamin/mineral/nutrient supplement for vegetarians.

Thanks again to all who have replied so far!

[hilary]

No problem! Some vegetarians and vegans I've heard don't even take supplements, but I think it's a good idea because you know everyone has days where they eat fast food and aren't as healthy getting our veggies or B12. Also, if you're looking for an easy way to get calcium, omega 3, and b12 and other vitamins, try soymilk. I know you're only trying out vegetarianism, but I know a lot of people who drink it regularly and their omnivores. So just a thought. The fortified Silk brand soy milk in the light blue carton has omega-3's and a bunch of other great stuff.

I went cold turkey too, and I found it was easiest that way. Don't feel bad if you slip up, it is your choice after all.

[akstrohm]

This link might be helpful: Elsevier

[CavySpirit]

Originally Posted by sophistacavy

This is an odd question, but will my bowel movements/poop change? I tend to have hard poops that sometimes plug up the toilet, and I might not have a bowel movement as often as is normal, so will going veggie for 40 or so days help with that? I mean, will I go more often, and will my bowel movements be softer and less likely to plug up the toilet?

My answer is absolutely! For the extreme better! Softer, easier, no strain, much much less odor, lighter color.

After you've been veggie for a while, I also highly recommend a colon cleanse program for a few days to really get rid of the old, nasty critters and such that have been accumulating in your colon for a long, long time. Then, my dear, you will feel so gosh, darn clean and healthy, you'll immediately see the difference if you go back to eating meat at all!

[CavySpirit]

I also want to just refresh people on the super health benefits of adding VCO Coconut Oil into your diet (Virgin, Organic, Cold-pressed). 3 Tablespoons a day!

http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...acle-food.html