Guest post by Stephanie Dreyer, VeegMama
I am so excited to be on Urban Naturale today! If you are in the process of deciding if vegan is the right lifestyle for you, or just feel overwhelmed with overhauling your diet, read on! It took me 6 months to hit my stride after going vegan overnight almost 5 years ago. There was a steep learning curve to build a new repertoire of recipes, familiarize myself with vegan products, and learn the latest in the animal rights movement. I wish I had had a vegan fairy godmother to show me the way. Let me be that for you! First off, I would have told my pre-vegan self the following few things. If I had known then what I know now, I might have gone vegan a lot earlier and would have enjoyed the process a bit more! These are just a few of the things I wish I had known before going vegan.
1. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Veganism is a lifestyle choice that I plan to live for the rest of my life. Big changes don’t have to be made overnight. In my new ebook, VeegMama’s Guide To Going Vegan, I share how to transition to a vegan diet and lifestyle simply and easily. I went vegan overnight, which was tough and overwhelming. Five years later, I realize, it didn’t have to be so hard. A transition takes time. There are no trophies for how long it takes you to get there (as anything in life). I wish I would have slowed down and realized that going vegan didn’t have to happen overnight. It would have made the whole process less daunting.
2. You will lose weight.
Losing six pounds the first week into my vegan journey was a complete surprise. I was in it for the animals, but the weight loss was an added bonus! It’s no surprise that eliminating meat and dairy from your diet and ramping up on extra vegetables is going to have positive effects on your waistline. Weight loss is one of the fringe benefits of going vegan.
3. You don’t have to be perfect.
I felt this pressure to learn everything there was to know about veganism, like I was preparing for a final exam and had to be an expert all at once if I was given the privilege of calling myself a vegan. There is no vegan police force watching your every move to call you out if you accidentally eat something with cheese or slip up and have a cookie baked with butter. As in life, do the best you can at any given moment. As long as you have the intention of living more compassionately, you are living the vegan lifestyle.
4. You don’t have to give up cheese.
I was a huge cheese freak before going vegan. It was one of the main reasons I didn’t switch to vegan from vegetarianism 5 years sooner. I did not realize that there are a variety of alternatives available to indulge my cheese cravings, including nut cheeses, spreads, and sauces. I can still easily satisfy my “cheese tooth” in my vegan diet.
5. You can eat as much as you want.
I never worry about how much I eat any more. No counting calories, no worrying about second helpings. As long as you are eating veggies and whole foods (versus French fries and Oreos), you really can eat as much as you want on a vegan diet and not worry about weight gain or other dietary issues.
6. It’s a lifestyle, not a diet.
When I committed to a new way of eating, I was also signing up for a new way of living – a life full of compassion and kindness, free of animal cruelty and products in any way, shape of form. It brought me into a community of other like-minded, loving individuals and really carved a new way of life for myself that has been more joyful and rewarding than I ever could have anticipated.
7. It’s easier than you think.
Chances are that you are already eating many plant-based foods (think pasta, rice and beans). Major retailers like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s offer many products that are prominently labeled. Vegan and vegan friendly restaurants are growing and growing.
There are also small changes that lead up to big differences in creating a plant-based diet, including:
*Adding more fruits and veggies to your plate (leaving less room for animal products)
*Switching out one thing for something else
*Making one meal a day meatless and building from there
So, what are you waiting for? Just do it! It is easier than you think, and the positive benefits will far outweigh any hesitation you are feeling now. For more information and advice on “good” living and the vegan lifestyle, check out VeegMama’s Guide To Going Vegan.
About the author
Stephanie Dreyer, is the founder of VeegMama, a lifestyle blog sharing new approaches to healthy living and eating. She encourages her readers to live their best life every day through food, wellness, and personal fulfillment. She is also a children’s book writer and mom of three. Stephanie was most recently featured on KCAL 9 in Los Angeles and Chickpea Magazine. She is a contributing author in the #1 Amazon Bestselling Book, Sexy Fit and Fab Sirens. Her new ebook, VeegMama’s Guide To Going Vegan, is now available. You can visit her at http://veegmama.com and can connect with her at veegmama@gmail.com, [http://facebook.com/Veegmama], [http://twitter.com/Veegmama], [http://instagram.com/Veegmama], and [http://pinterest.com/veegmama].
Are you vegan or are you thinking about transitioning to a plant-based diet?
What are some of the things you wish you knew before going vegan?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
“Shared at The SITS Girls Sharefest”
“Shared at Gluten Free Fridays”
“Shared at Healthy Vegan Fridays”
“Shared at The SITS Girls Link Up”
I think you are stating some misconceptions. You must be eating a healthy plant based diet as there are many overweight vegans. Many eat a lot of processed vegan foods (which I also eat) which make the transition much easier, taste amazing and are great if you have children, add weight to many vegans. There are lots of non dairy desserts that also while delicious and vegan are not good for weight loss. I originally became vegan for the health benefits and learned that eating salad dressings with oil might be vegan but not healthy and can also put on the weight. Bread, cake, nuts and a variety of other vegan foods put on weight. You mentioned not eating french fries and oreos but I am not sure any newcomers realize that includes most processed vegan foods. Luckily for anyone new to the change there are people like you and lots of online sources for info and support. I just thought as someone reading your information I felt it gives the impression that becoming vegan automatically promotes weight loss and I know that you are promoting a fresh plant based diet which would but that is not how it reads above. Thanks
Hi Sherry,
I am so glad you shared your thoughts with us. I agree that it is very important to make smart, fresh, organic food choices. I personally avoid vegan processed foods and prepackaged meals. I think it is important to prepare my own food from scratch so I know what I am eating. Portion control is also important. Again, thank you for commenting. We appreciate it.
Sherry, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
In my experience, veganism did result in weight loss. I did start out with vegan faux meats and such when I first transitioned, but along the way, I learned about a whole, fresh, plant based way of eating that uses those processed foods only occasionally and always in moderation. I love to cook and make almost everything homemade so I have been fortunate to experience the benefits I list above. I appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective. It is important for new veegs to keep in mind as they make the transition!
I also went vegan after Thanksgiving 2012. I did wonderful job of educating myself about the benefits of a vegan diet and followed a strict diet of organic whole foods. I still eat vegan food but since Thanksgiving 2014 I have been eating meat here and there and I feel like I’m not able to quit yet and it’s Feb 5th 2015. I really would like to get back to eating a 100%vegan ASAP
Hi Madison,
I am delighted that you shared your experiences with going vegan with us. Transitioning can be a challenge. You can try to increase your intake of plant-based foods so that they make up a larger proportion of your meals.
Hi Madison,
Every little step counts! A few small steps can lead up to one great leap. Congrats to you for having the awareness and desire to do something. Maybe start with one meal a week. Once you master that, add in another meal and so on. I also find that having a community or a few people in the same situation can help you do it together. Reading blogs like this one is a great way to meet like minded folks and encourage each other on. Good luck on the journey and please feel free to reach out at veegmama@gmail.com if I can help answer any questions.
These are such great tips! I wish I had had this 5 and a half years ago when I went vegan (especially the cheese tidbit before I learned the wonders of cashew cheeze). I initially lost weight as well, but sometimes I do not always eat as healthy as I should or could and I gain weight. I’m not sure I think that weight loss should be associated with veganism – I know plenty of unhealthy vegans. I also think there can be too much of a good thing (overeating is still overeating even if it’s all plant based food).
#6 is my favourite =) I feel as though as a lot of people seem to confuse being vegan with a fad diet, which I find annoying. Maybe it is for some people, but it’s really changed a lot of things about how I live and I love that.
Thanks for sharing Stephanie!
Thanks Deborah and Stephanie for including this at the The Plant-Based Potluck Party Link Up #33. What Stephanie describes happened in a similar fashion for me too. It’s great to know that increasing numbers are getting on the plant-based whole food bandwagon and creating such tasty, creative dishes. Thanks again. Nancy Andres, Health & Lifestyle Writer, Author of “Colors of Joy: A Woman’s Guide for Self-Discovery, and Bliss,” Blogger at http://obloggernewbie.blogspot.com and http://www.nancyandreswriter.com/colors-of-joy-blog/
Hi Nancy,
I am so delighted that this post resonated with you. As Stephanie shares, there are so many good reasons for transitioning to a plant-based diet! All the best, Deborah