84% of vegetarians and 75% of vegans fail, but 1/3 want to get back on the wagon. This video explores why they fail and why people can't seem to return to veganism easily regardless of the desire.
***** Did you say child? How many people do you know of who have been vegan for 26 years? I didn't say I was 26 years old. I said I have been vegan for 26 years. Big difference. My childhood days are far behind me.
Awww +Jay Jay, I think your millennial style sarcasm has been lost on your unsuspecting victim..I'd say it was mean if I was sure you knew they'd be so deeply trolled >_< +Mark Gailmor, I can't promise it, but I don't think JJ was being serious..In any case, not to worry, 26 years vegan is certainly venerable to most of us!!
It's hard to resist the power of social pressure. If I didn't watch UA-cam and read Dr. Greger's website, I would probably start feeling like I was going crazy, because so many people just don't connect with me when I talk about veganism. Recently I met someone who used to be vegan for a few years but reverted to eating some animal products because she wanted to "remineralize her body". She urged me to be open to consuming animal products in the future for my health's sake. It's so frustrating sometimes to meet people who followed the vegan diet for a long time but STILL come up with reasons to stop being vegan. I wonder if she reverted because she didn't eat enough calories.
Yea probably the calorie thing. When i look at what i eat now which is like 4 meals that normal people eat for one meal then i think most people eat way to little to stay healthy. Also what minerals was she eating only apples or what? :)
i failed because the first time i was vegan i did it for health reasons. i couldn't resist the temptations to eat meat and cheese again, who i really like the taste of. after a year i truly educated myself, watched every documentary possible, and now when i'm tempted to eat meat i think of it as a pig, a cow that lost their life in torture. this way is the easiest of resisting it. i would never eat something so sad again.
+talkshh if it's a matter of taste, you can find soooo many vegan products with similar taste :D if it's hard to find them, or they are expensive, you can find recipes to make your own.. after all, what gives meat the taste it has is the way it is cooked. you can make burgers with lentils for example, or try making your own cheese. you really dont have to feel that you are missing that taste!!! good luck, hope this helps :)
I often contemplate under what circumstances I would inflict pain (never) or eat my dog companion (lost in the Arctic?). I look at people and other animals and ask the same questions. What are the differences? The more I do this exercise, I see more clearly no difference between people, my loved ones, unknown animals, and myself.
Alpha Spearl I started this exercise after discussing with a child who claimed to love all animals. I asked why she ate ham (she did not realize that ham was pig flesh) and asked what the difference was between her dog and a pig.
When I see meat on tv it makes me sick to my stomach. That's how you know I have watched every vegan documentary there is to watch. Lol I'm not going back.
I was vegan for a year and 3 months but fell back into eating meat, dairy and eggs die to feeling unsupported by family. I've recently returned to full veganism.and plan to stay this way for good
Been vegan for a year this month. I don't understand why anyone would go back, especially if you know what really happens in animal agriculture. You literally couldn't PAY me to eat animal products ever again. I actually have nightmares sometimes that people are going to force me to eat cheese, LOL. I've gotten healthier this year, no more IBS or high cholesterol, and I haven't been sick at all this year! I usually get sick 3 times a year!
A year isn't long enough to start feeling the deficiency veganism has. Don't get ahead of yourself, watch your face first. You can start seeing a health decline when you lose fat around your eyes and on your jaw line. If you have IBS be careful, eating large portions and lots of fiber will make it worse
There's also a lot of people just waiting for you to slip up, fail in some way. I'm new to the vegan lifestyle going on 5 months, and no matter how much I tell everyone that it has truly given me a renewed sense of purpose, that I'm happier or how passionate I feel about it (even when I express myself with extreme passion, i.e. getting into mini heated debates with family members about why veganism is amazing,important, better, necessary, etc). There are many who say "Oh this just a phase", "next year you'll be eating turkey with us again". It's pretty condescending and annoying. Every vegan starts somewhere, not all of us were born vegan, and didn't wake up one day to a fast forward of being vegan for over a year. Not that it's discouraging me at all, if anything that can give a person the extra push to be the best vegan/human version of themselves they can be, but man, it's a very common, and annoying response to get when you're doing something that you love.
I hear you. I've had to avoid ordering dishes that even sound vegetarian/vegan (veggie burgers, vegetarian this, vegan that) and opt for a salad instead so that certain family members only think it's just me trying to be healthy. Of course, I've only been doing this a few months, so maybe they'll change their minds eventually, but gosh is it annoying!
SM R same! People keep asking 'so when are you going to eat meat again?....how long are you not going to eat meat?" And I just reply "for as long as I can. Hopefully for the rest of my life..." Then a year later when they see me they say "oh you still don't eat meat?! I thought that was just a phase!"
SM R I totally agree I had been vegan for 6 months and I have to say I've not found it difficult as I was vegetarian to start although I've eaten meat too in the past, before going vegetarian..and I've been buying cruelty free products for over 20years now so I needed that last push as I found it hard at the time to give up milk and yogurt's not cheese, but educational research helped with that I suspect alot of people resonate with what you experience I know I have and I'm in my 40s! wishing you and all the other UA-camrs luck and positive thoughts to the one who are finding it difficult.....💜😉🐝
You know what I love about your stuff? It's not all frilly and full of vegan bologna and shaming of meat eaters like all of the other vegan youtubers I have come across. I have been focusing my diet on plant based foods for the past year with no restriction on dairy, eggs or honey and having small amounts of meat here and there so as to not offend family members with whom I have not shared my goal of going vegan. The last month-ish or so I have cut meat out of my diet completely and am now working on learning how to comfortably transition into veganism so I don't shock my body and brain and bounce right back out of it again (like I have done several times in the past). Your videos are doing such a fantastic job at explaining things from a logical standpoint and not just shaming every non-vegan out there about contributing to the brutal mass murder of millions of cute fluffy animals (I'm looking at you, Sorsha). Obviously, that is part of it, but I am a farm girl and grew up raising our own food which meant physically being a part of the butcher process and as a result I am fairly desensitized to the whole thing (I think I just heard several vegans audibly gasp...) I have tried doing it "for the animals" but as much as I love them, I will probably always have the mindset that they are livestock. I had to find a new way, I had to find new motivation. My motivation this time around is pretty selfish, I am doing it for myself. I physically feel healthier and less weighed down when I do not eat animal products, specifically meat. Your educational videos debunking all of the myths about things like soy, vitamin deficiencies, human evolution etc have really given me the push I needed. Sorry I wrote you a novel, but what I am trying to say is Thank you for what you are doing here.
Thanks for the kind words. I too am quite desensitized to animal suffering as my social media feeds are often dominated by animal rights activists showing slaughter footage and I am generally a highly tolerant person to gore. I also went vegan for mainly selfish health reasons but then when I looked in at animals as someone who isn't contributing to that system I would finally see chickens as more than vegetables with legs, etc. Then doing research on the Cambridge Declaration of Consciousness and animals suffering helped a bit. It's amazing how much we overlook. Pigs can recognize themselves in the mirror which is fucking nuts. Anyway, glad you are feeling better with the change.
I have gone vegetarian for ethical reasons - yeah,I know vegans will say it is not good enough but doing my best and not eating a lot of dairy or eggs - and am finding the same that I feel less weighed down without meat,although I am eating more veg.
Amanda,going vegan for your health reasons is not selfish at all. It is just good sound wisdom. I am working on transitioning to a vegan lifestyle and it is for health and nutritional reason. There is nothing wrong or selfish about trying to improve and take care of your health. There is also nothing wrong with not being against animals for food. God put animals here for us to use for many things including food and clothing,among other things. I grew up eating meat and animal products and hunting and fishing and I still have nothing against that at all. What would we do if everyone became vegan overnite? What would we do with all those animals? Who would pay for feeding them? I could go on and on but I won't for now... Bottom line is do what is best for you and know that taking care of yourself and your health is a good thing and not a selfish thing or bad thing at all. And don't let anyone guilt you into thinking there is something wrong with you if you don't jump on the anti animals bandwagon. Some of us choose to remain balanced in our thinking and don't have to follow everything thing someone else tells us we have too. Take care of yourself. I plan too because no one else will.
lucaboden cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol, and obesity suck, but you can continue to set you path to forming these diseases If you are a big meat eater who hates vegans lol
I've been vegetarian for a few years and vegan for 4 months and I can say with whole confidence that I will NEVER, NEVER consume animal products again. I don't understand how someone could go back
Absolutely! I completely feel you there. Once you make that connection it's there for life. No hen period or rotten cows milk could sway you when the planet is on the line!
The statistics line up with my experience. New "born again" vegans are most vocal and aggressive and seem to be the ones most likely to quit (at least those most pitifully memorable). A third of vegans quit within three months, half quit within the year.
It's good that you have confidence but I must say something and not many vegans or vegetarians understand this but I have 3 times tried going vegan I never rushed my body into veganism but I became sick carbs and sugar put a lot of stress on my body they make me tired have to much sugar and I will sleep for two days along with my body slows down if carbs are involved I never had carbs as a child and I was energetic did sports every year. My main primary source other than milo products was meat and a wide range of vegetables no nuts. I have yet to meet a vegan that can understand and not act like I'm hitler.
After being vegan for 2 years, animal products are no longer food to me. When I'm hungry or I haven't eaten enough, my body doesn't start craving cheese and meat, it starts craving high fat vegan food. Non-vegan food is no longer an option for me.
I'm sort of like that; my weakness is actually pasta so I buy a high fiber version, weigh it on my kitchen scale and don't eat it more than 2x a mo. Works for me!
+jamd1421 lucky you! i loved it so much , i used to eat a lot of cheese every day... finally i went vegan last month and tbh i get so full with everything i eat that i dont need it or crave it anymore!
Don't hesitate decreasing your consumption of animal products even if you don't want to go fully vegan! Every little step into the direction towards veganism is good! And don't feel too bad if you slip up once, just forgive yourself, think about what caused the slip up and how you could avoid that in the future and move on!
Two years into my veganism I started eating small amounts of meat and dairy again. My excuse was I was having post partum depression and put on Wellbutrin. Little did I know but that drug was making my anxiety sky rocket and I was getting dizzy spells. Paranoia led to me worrying about nutrients (not having any blood tests or anything.) Time went on, things got better, I figured out wth was going on and went vegan again. Been vegan for three years now after the slip and I'm in such a better place emotionally and in my health education. I am still ashamed that I went through that period, but I am incredibly happy now that I'm back where I'm supposed to be. :)
I never realised the failure rate was so high! I knowingly 'cheated' on maybe a dozen occasions during my first year as vegetarian, but haven't felt the urge in years, especially once I finally went vegan. I wonder if the failure rate drops off after a certain amount of time as a vegan. Are there any studies on that? Awesome channel by the way, deserves many more subs.
It could have a lot to do with the fact that American society is not very self disciplined. I went vegan 23 years along with my wife. We both have had no problem staying on this diet. It has so many benefits. Both my brother, and sister have also gone vegan. Unfortunately our daughter once she left home picked up a bunch of bad eating habits and goes back and forth between vegan, and vegetarian diet. It is the processed food that I fear are really making her over weight. My wife and I still weight the same as we did when we got married 33 years ago. 150 lbs and 85 lbs. We are both healthy, happy and very active.
i know you posted this 2 months ago. How tall is your wife if you dont mind me asking? Because the average weight of an 11 year old girl is 81.5 Lbs while the average weight of a 12 year old girl is 90 lbs. And your wife is 85 lbs?
Your wifes BMI is 16.6 which is 1.9 lower then 18.5 which 18.5 is still a bare minimum for what is considered a healthy weight. She is underweight, and should try to put on some weight. If she gained 15 lbs being at 100 lbs her bmi would increase to 19.53 being slightly over whats considered a "healthy weight." No hate towards you just trying to help! :)
If she wasn't on the run so much and so active she might put on a pound or two. She says she feels good, and her doctors say she is doing fine. Just a little under weight.
Vagues et Vent Because being underweight isn't healthy. I was taking the initiative I'm just saying when you weigh the average weight of a 9 year old girl something is up. I have no doubt she is healthy, but she could gain more weight if she wished to. Did not intend an argument, please lets end this on a good note 😊
Under-eating was the reason I failed so many times. It took me over 8 years before I finally learned how to eat right & #Vegan. Such a wonderful video. !!
I suppose it depends on where you live and so what access you have to all different types of vegan food/places including vegan junk food. But ive never understood why even new vegans would fall back into there omni state when there are so many mock meats and cheeses that are very scaringly similar.
It's so hard for me to get enough calories. That's my challenge. Im too small to lose weight as it is and I don't want to lose muscle, and I think I'm smaller now in that sense. I've been vegan 8 months. I get so full fast but I have used chronometer many times and I'm always a few hundred calories under:/ not including my daily workouts. I think I just need to make more calorie loaded shakes.
The more you limit grains/sugars and fats, the harder it is to get all the calories in. While it's possible to live on beans, fruits, and vegetables, I don't like to have massive poops 2-3 times a day. So I have upped the fat and grains, and now I couldn't complain. However, I will always choose to fast or buy fruit from a grocery store if I'm far from home without provisions.
Thalía de Montserrat Forcada Heras I'm not her, but if you need a solution then I would recommend watching Mic's "What I Eat Every Day" video and checking out the recipes on the sites and channels he lists there.
As a vegetarian I was always tolerated and understand by anyone and I always found food for me on menus in resturants. Nobody really minded that I don't eat meat. Now I started to talk about that I want to go vegan and many people have been going crazy about it. Some relatives even said to me that I shouldn't do it because it would change me to much...
"Listening to my body to have dairy and eggs"... means cravings. It's simply a cop out and a euphamism for cravings. If I "listened to my body" when I drive by or walk near a fast food restauant smelling the grease (fries) or near a hot dog stand smelling the hot dogs and greasy fried onions, then I would fall off the healthy plant based diet as well. I listen to my conscious engaged mind for all the reasons not to eat that shite instead of "listening to my (cravings) body" then I grab an apple or something.
Heard Patrick Baboumian give a talk where he made a really good point about the chemical addiction for dairy - it's there to create a bond between the baby and the mother. So when we do cut out dairy from other mammals it's like taking the mother relationship away from a grown baby.
IMO you need to have more than one reason to stay vegan. Health was my first concern to dig into veganism but animal welfare is what keep me in after more than 5 years. Being remotivated through a vegan comunity is very important as you mention and chanels like Dr. Greger are also very important for me. Thanks for the video. You are doing a great job
You forgot crabs in a bucket syndrome...how people subconciously try to bring others down if they see someone trying to make positive changes or growing....
Just subscribed! I was one of those people. I'm 49 and have on again off again tried to go either vegetarian or vegan but couldn't get over the brainwashing But now with UA-cam and facing the truth and not Hiding from it. I will never go back. I just watch videos everyday like yours and truly researching and educating myself so I do it right. I feel so much guilt and anger for being so ignorant and blind to the truth for so long. but I'm here now and it's thankfully to people like you that have helped me💜
My first month going vegan wasn't easy....I'm not gonna lie. I had been on the most unhealthy diet....ever before going vegan. Basically, I drank a energy drink for breakfast, one around lunch, and ate whatever I wanted for dinner. I didn't eat like that to lose weight, I was just busy and yet last when it came to taking care of myself. Once I decided (for ethical reasons) to go vegan, I realized those energy drinks weren't filling me up anymore and by dinner time I was cranky and starving. So, I eliminated the energy drinks and started eating lunch and having a smoothie for breakfast. This worked much better, but KILLED my stomach at first. My stomach wasn't use to having to digest food all day. Plus, I was actually getting fiber and healthy foods in my body which took awhile to make me "regular"' However, once I got use to it, I have never felt better. Who knew that cutting out all those "energy" drinks and actually eating healthy foods would ACTUALLY give me ENERGY?!?! Lol! I realized that the ONLY reason veganism was painful for me was because of the abuse I had done to myself. At one point during that first month, I wanted to cheat, but my husband talked some sense into me....thankfully! :-) Since then and since realizing my food needs, I have never been tempted to cheat again! I am so thankful that my husband and sons went vegan when I did. It's great to have that support and to have people to keep you accountable. As the mother of two children, I realize that they are watching and learning from me. I have to be strong in my veganism to keep them strong and that motivates me as well. Also, quick question. Does meat and dairy take a lot longer to work through your system than plant foods? I wonder this because before....I didn't starve, honestly. I just never had the urge to eat during the day when I was drinking my energy drinks and having a high animal fat dinner. That same way of eating didn't work after going vegan because after a plant based dinner, I was always too hungry the next day to just drink energy drinks. Thankfully veganism got me out of that horrible cycle! Also, I have been LOSING WEIGHT while eating more! I thought I just couldn't lose weight before, but now I think that my previous diet was killing my metabolism.
Yes, typical animal foods take several hours longer to pass through the digestive system (some of it actually clog up your system). Though, there is a lot of variability of all types. Water and simple sugars are absorbed very quickly. Fats inhibit cellular energy absorption. . It is common that vegans lose weight early but then gain back some weight later -- though typically maintain a healthy ideal weight consuming low fat, whole, healthy, plants. . Please take your B12 (and D if inadequate sunlight). Best of luck, health, and happiness to you and your family.
+Alison Self Glad to hear you have real energy now! Meat and dairy are high fat foods which means you get more calories per bite. That is why fake meat and cheese can be useful during a transition, because they usually have the same amount of fat as meat so you don't go hungry. Avocadoes, nut butter, and other higher fat plant foods might be useful to keep yourself full, especially if you aren't used to eating a lot of volume. I haven't seen evidence that meat digests any slower or faster than other foods with the same ratios of fat and protein, though there are studies showing that undigested meat proteins make it into your colon, in which they ferment into nasty and toxic hydrogen sulphide or rotten egg gas, contributing to colitis. As this study shows, up to 12 grams of meat protein can do this: ajcn.nutrition.org/content/32/10/2094.full.pdf Yes an energy drink a day will certainly mess with your metabolism/adrenals. I am glad to hear you are eating real food though!
you need to watch Freeleethebananagirl's videos here on youtube to be able to really understand exactly how much you can eat on this lifestyle! looool watch her what I eat in a day videos and brace yourself. Though I wouldn't do the whole eating more fat thing to feel fuller as that can lead to weight gain and low energy levels and can even restrict your carbohydrate calorie intake that may lead to quitting being vegan. It's great having your family's support...I got mine from my parents after months of educating them and unbrainwashing them of all the propaganda of the meat and dairy industry! hahaha but thankfully they are on board now and have become pure vegetarians, soon to be vegans!
+Gunjan Verma Eating a fruit-based diet is incredibly dangerous in the long run and I do not consider Freelea a good ambassador for veganism when she is constantly engaging in fat shaming.
One way to _kind've_ stay vegan to not think cheating is the end. So, you ate some cheese. Your friends ordered a pizza. It was the only food in the house. It smelled great. You hadn't eaten before you joined them. Ok. It's done. Now, be vegan again.
also there are situations like your town is not even vegetarian friendly, so you eat out and they have veggie burger but with some dairy based sauce in it which they don't want to replace with ketchup for some reason, so you either eat it and having a normal time or you end up with fries and hunger
@@earthlingxx6168 Whether you're health-based &/or ethical, &/or just the way you were brought up, you're human. Situations can lead you off-course. Unless you change the definition of 'vegan' to "one who's never fucked up, & never will.
I've been vegan for 8 years and was vegetarian for about 12 before that with the excuse of "I can't give up cheese." When I did, my skin cleared up, and now I can't even stomach the vegan cheeses. I just have no taste for it anymore, and I'm so glad.
I obsessively eat healthy, if I know something is unhealthy I just don't like putting it into my body anymore. That is part of what keeps me from slipping up even a bit.
Counting calories is so important! I was sure I'm eating a lot, too much in fact. I was even worried I'd gain weight. And then I did the math. Turned out I was eating only about a 1000 kcal, which clearly is not even close to being enough. Did the more math, kept track of my intake and bam! It works ^^
+AnHeC Eating incredibly healthy lentils and let's say, red rice (highest antiox content), will give you a great amount of calories if you were deficient. As a tall male, I have no problem maintaining a healthy weight without counting calories on a plant-based diet. I think too often legumes are overlooked.
Blaice Dude, I'm full after one slice of bread. I cook 40 grams of oats because I am not able to eat more in one sitting. Trust me, even with lentils it's a job to eat enough (welcome to life after eating disorders).
Mic, have you read the Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg? He talks about a habit loop: the trigger, the behavior, and the reward. It would be interesting to address vegan failure through this lens. Food and eating are powerful triggers so unless you reprogram the behavior or reward, you're exerting will power. The book highlights research that contends that willpower is a like a muscle and it can fatigue. It can also be strengthened similar to our muscles. Something to look into if you weren't already familiar.
There was never a choice for me after learning the truth. Either I go and stay vegan or...I'm a piece shit who couldn't live with themselves. Not really a choice there. Good video, though. I had to use cronometer the first month or so after going vegan to make sure I was eating enough and getting proper balance nutrients (something I never bothered to do eating a SAD).
Opposite problem for me with the 'lack of food/variety', I'm thinking "damn, I'm not going to be THAT hungry to make all the recipes I want to try today"
I am so glad I find such joy out of eating healthy. Real foods with real flavors. Have been vegan for about 9 months now and I feel great! I am 35 years old and I am back to my high school weight. And I am as ripped as I was in high school... I am never turning back... can't even look at meat without seeing the animal being slaughtered
I HATE when people say veganism is expensive! I spend 20-30 dollars every two weeks on food and it lasts me the entire time. That's 2-3 dollars a day. All meals, snacks, and dessert concluded. The people who use this excuse are the same people that think eating at McDonald's is the cheapest. Even when I changed all my cosmetics it was cheaper than the non-vegan cosmetic options.
imsmartwater It normally varies between fruits and veggies depending on what's on sale. But I normally get multiple different beans (mostly black beans for multiple recipes), spinach, kale, rice, apples (since they're normally pretty cheap), ooatmeal and bananas are my first go-to's. Oh, and a variety of frozen veggies, or canned if they're cheaper :) I hope this helps!
I don't think it's possible for me, a 5' 11" male, to practically live vegan on 2-3 dollars a day. I budget 10 bucks a day and that can be rough because I like to eat mostly raw and diversely.
Cooking with Plants is a lovely low-fat, plant-based UA-cam recipe channel. The cooking instructions are very clear and the presenter is excellent. I think lack of calories is an interesting point. It's tempting to think we're missing certain nutrients, etc. but I think the calorie factor might often be overlooked.
2 kg (5 lbs) of carrots provide nearly all vitamins, minerals, and protein required in a day (low B12, D, E, zinc, iodine, fats). It can be done, but that's a lot of chewing. :)
Hi Mic. the Vegan. Just had the most upsetting conversation with my mum as she was going on about water useage whilst constantly consuming meat, so much bloody meat! I never normally talk about why I am vegan to most of my family as it is too upsetting. Randomly put some ear plugs in and was scrolling through google and repeating to myself "keep your mouth shut, keep your mouth shut". Anyway it was great to find your channel. I live in a tiny rural regional town in Australia where beef is king so it made me feel a little bit sane to find your channel. Thank Mic. the Vegan.
I've been a vegan for about 10 years, maybe longer. The vast majority of people would be overwhelmed by all all the nutritional details your expecting people to pay attention to. Like many nutrition enthusiasts you assume that everybody can process all this complexity easily and eagerly. Vegans fail because generally veganism is a very unwelcome, fractious, confusing, drama-ridden culture. It's also totally dominated by recipes and foodie-ism. I'm also not into the New Atheist, science-zealot movement. They're as boorish as evangelical Christians. And yes, it is elitist. Wealthier vegans nitpick lower income vegans and tell them to "eat vegan cake", pointing to all sorts of expensive products to achieve some sort of vegan perfection. I could write a book on why vegans fail. I'm vegan for the animals and I'll be a vegan for life. But on most other levels. I don't like being a vegan.
I'm fairly new to veganism, and had been vegetarian for a bit when I was younger. Cheese definitely led to me giving up vegetarianism. My doctor told me I was addicted to the cheese and I thought he was the crazy one when he confiscated my cheese. I'm dead serious. I have some autoimmune disorders and I have to say, veganism is greatly improving my quality of life, aside from the obvious benefits to animals. Cost wise, I just spent LESS on stocking my kitchen with all vegan food stuffs than I would have normally spent on groceries that are non-vegan. I think your videos are great. You've been a big help to me.
If people do it for health reasons alone, they're more likely to fail. I didn't educate myself enough about vegetarianism (which was just a stepping stone to veganism though I didn't know it at the time) & only skimmed the surface of health & ethical reasons; that's why I failed multiple times. But with thorough education, I can no longer look at meat, dairy or eggs without thinking of the animal that suffered for the pleasure of humans.
Kelly Elekels That is very true I actually recently found out I was deficient in minerals and vitamins. I found out it was not my vegan diet per se but it was due to the fact that I still ate like shit on a vegan diet. But once I started eating right it has slowly gotten better.
I live in a little Russian town. I started as an animal rights and rescue activist and then became vegan for ethical reasons so to be honest it didn't matter to me how it would affect my health. However, what I noticed after the first few days is how energetic and light (in a good way) I felt. I have a lot of health issues I was born with and was told they are incurable but I felt the dramatic improvement. My pain lessened, I got my appetite back which I haven't had since I was a toddler! I'm excited about food and don't feel nausea and discomfort afterwards. I didn't even think it was possible for me to not feel nauseous after I eat lol! I am calmer, kinder, I am less reactive and I bounce back after hardships more easily. As for the cost it's not at all more than meet. I found soy milk that costs the same (and even less! depending on the brand) than actual milk. Plus once I stopped consuming dairy I understood I am lactose intolerant. I just could not accept it before since everyone told me I needed dairy. I eat grains (lentils,beans,rice,etc), pasta, veggies, tofu, vegan bread, soy milk, fruit. No fancy vegan stuff. No fake meets or fake cheese or anything. I take B12 but I actually was prescribed to take it before I went vegan. B12 deficiency is NOT a vegan thing. Most of people are b12 deficient. I don't buy any proteins in powders and stuff. So compare it with the price of meet and it's not expensive at all. And I live in a cold region where veggies and fruit are not that cheap. So I think people fail because they try to live the same instead of trying new foods. They waste all that mental energy trying to replace cheese and hot dogs and so on. Instead, have fun with exploring new foods, new recipes. I also got back into sports! It's incredible. And I work long hours, my job is very demanding physically but I handle it even better than before.
Thank god I found your channel, you give out very useful information and help educate me on nutrition. One small UA-cam comment can't show my true thanks, but really Thank You.
I also was a really big meat,cheese and eggs lover. Almost all of my days started with 3 or 4 eggs, about 200 grams of cottage cheese and some type of meat. And i thought i was eating healthy! i thought my energy levels were normal. Now, looking back, i feel like i was literally asleep and fatigued all of my life. I tried going vegetarian once before, and at some point, i simply didn't gave a shit anymore. I didn't know why i was doing it for. But, i've been working out for about 2 years now and started to research and understand the importance of vegetables and micronutrients. Eating animal products, i always struggled hitting even 15 grams of fiber a day. At some point it became an obsession. So i researched some more and stumbled upon the science and doctor Greger, and i had one of my biggest AHA moments in my life. I finally understood the WHY's and the HOW TO's. Transitioning to a WFPB vegan diet was super easy for me. Now i'm studying to become a plant based nutritionist and i found my passion: to help people understand and find their health, balance, and true nature. P.S. your channel is awesome, thank you for what you're doing!
EAT ENOUGH CALORIES!!! I cannot stress this enough!!! I'm glad you repeated this because most ex vegans I know always tell me 'I was hungry all the time' or 'my body was needing cheese' and I'm like hell no you're body needed cheese, you were just craving fats. so if you ever find yourself craving cheese, eat some nuts or seeds. they'll fill you up and they're healthy and cruelty free!! also, EAT! just think about babies and how they cry when they're hungry or small children get cranky without food. There's a reason some people say that the way to the heart is through food: you'll be happy if you're well fed. Eat every 4 hours and add some fat to your food (no, not all fat is bad). Avocados, walnuts, cashew nuts, pistachios, almonds, sesame seeds, even tofu! they'll fill you up for longer and they're super healthy
"Meat is seasoned with plants for a reason" Exactly! That's what I always try to tell people. You can make anything taste good with seasoning, it's not the meat. You're really motivating me, being vegan was something always in my mind and now it has been a week since I'm vegan. There are many obstacles, especially the social obstacles are kinda annoying. However, results of the first week is so good that makes me want to see what happens in a long term. I sleep and wake up better, I used to be a binge eater but now I only eat when I feel hungry, haven't had a single acne this week. My family tries to convince me that it's not healthy, I think I'll try to convince them, for their own good...
I am vegan for a few days at a time then fall back into vegetarian cuz cheese. I repelled all candy on halloween last night and I think I'm finally at that point where I've had cheese for the last time. It gets more gross each time I give in. I'm gonna do it!
can i just say teens and veganism are a hard mix i dont feel that he quite gets that im an adult but i know what its like when u constantly have ur parents and people who are supposed to be ut friends turn around and cuss u down or restrict u for doing things because its apparently either a stupid phase or apparently ull die. i understand that teens do stupid things sometimes but the treatment is horrible...
I've been binge watching your channel!! you are so amazing!! thank you so much for all the information, details and well thought out videos. I'm raising 3 vegan sons ages 7, 12, and 15, hubby is also vegan. I've been vegetarian for about 8 years and vegan for 4. This particular video I felt was very important because it addresses so much of what vegan's contend with. For me it's keeping myself educated. Keeping the eyes and faces of the pigs and cows at the forefront of my mind and reminding my family constantly. I want to be able to do more activism and include my family so that when my sons are older and making more of their own dietary choices (i.e. cook for themselves) they won't end up like these statistics! LOVE LOVE LOVE what you are doing :)
"meat is seasoned with plants for a reason..." great saying! :) the reason why im not a failed vegan is because i never really liked cheese. i ate it seldomly and was never crazy about it. i know many people who a literally addicted to cheese. sad. the biggest struggle i have is social presure, but i try to not give a damn about it.
Hi mic, I have failed :'( and I am so sad about it ... but I have stomach problems and often can't eat raw fruit or veggies, I don't know what to do... but I still eat 70% vegan, just not 100%. I think it's important to not loose everything because you failed, just keep on going and try ti go back on track.
Great video, I sincerely hope you start gaining in popularity. I've been vegan for just under two months now and I definitely think I'm not getting enough calories, I'll go an entire meal sometimes and eat nothing besides a single banana... which isn't exactly healthy.
+Hexic Dragon Check out this link, it's full of great advice for new vegans or ex-vegans who want to get back to it. Veganism can be easy! www.reddit.com/r/vegan/comments/2zucd7/if_you_are_against_animal_oppression_want_to_go/
When I see your older videos from two years ago..I realize I wasnt vegan then and I would have been the person advocating for cheese and eggs.Keep doing what you're doing! Anyone can change with the right information!
I think your spot on with the cheese. I eat mostly vegan, but the cheese calls to me. I am going to watch those videos you suggest to get motivated. Love your channel, just subscribed. 👍🏻
+N Scheese It's amazing isn't it?! When you think really hard about cheese, there is nothing logical about why you crave it so much more than other foods. I didn't get it until I heard about the opiates. Glad you like it :)
I find people dumb when they say the go back to eating meat because they didn't feel good or had issues with iron or something, yet are perfectly OK with risking a hearth attack, stroke, cancer, diabetes.. And I guess taking an iron supplement is just too much to ask for... *rolls eyes.. I know they weren't eating enough or eating the right foods but they just wanted an excuse. I think the inconvenience and social factor is the main causes for that and a lack of cooking their own meals and eating the right foods as well.
Was a vegan for seven years, started eating dairy again for three, recently went vegan again (after reading Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer). I stopped being vegan because I was traveling and couldn't always find vegan options and the second reason was none of my friends or relatives are vegan, so there was definitely a huge social aspect. I'm really excited to be back on the bandwagon, I haven't looked back.
When I removing high caloric food (cheese) when I switched to veganism I lost about 20 lbs before I figured out I needed to add more calories to my diet. Mmmmm avocados.....
main reason why i gave up being vegan was i was too hard on myself when i craved something like cheese + societal pressure and everyone around you being so okay with not being aligned with such an obvious benign choice. it makes you feel crazy and out of control. i'm feeling confident i can go back because it was the best i felt in my life mentally and physically, and it was only for a few months too. thank you so much for existing Dx
xavier wilson Also, I would say to plan out and incorporate more vegan meals while transitioning so it's not too jarring. For some people though, like myself, it's better to just get all animal products out of the house so you don't have a chance to relapse, assuming you have vegan options available.
xavier wilson that's what I'm doing, although I don't label myself as either one. I've been making more vegan foods at home and buying a lot of fruit which seems to be working.
Like Mic said in the beginning - the number one 'health' fix for most people: get accustomed to eat more. Esp. for women eating more (and stuffing yourself a bit) is still associated with so much shame... The average plant food has more fiber, more nutrients, but less energy. Which will lead you to feel full faster. So you gotta make it a habit to eat a bit more than you "feel" like.
I think that we shouldn't be be so hard on our selves if we "fail" do your best and know who you are. Just don't ever stop. If you really feel like you want meat, try to do it in the most humane way that you can. This is not a religion, this is a choice.
Lil B's 1000 Year Old Vans ya man thanks I know. It's been February of 2016 I've started but I never gave up. As each month goes I get a little serious. My only problem is vegan candy and EXTRA sugar.(400 to 600 grams of sugar)
***** Plants don't have brains and there for don't feel any pain. Therefore it's been shown that they don't have a CNS. What you could be talking about is how plants evolved to protect themselves like poison.
Even though my veganism began for my desire to avoid the dread diseases my parents, grandparents and sister died of, and then my husband's cancer, now I find meat gross and care a lot about the animals. To me it is not difficult to remain vegan. The greatest challenge was having to eat out and then learning how to be firm but nice so that I can eat what keeps me feeling well. I really don't care if celebrities fail at veganism, to me they are not only physically plastic but as emotionally so. The health benefits and knowing what they are keep me focused and I make sure I find good things to watch and read to keep myself educated and motivated. I am not just doing for me, I was my parents care-giver and how much that took out of my life and my family's and I came to see that my parents' lack of self-control in diet was the cause of their need to take me away from being the parent I should have been able to be. I do not want to repeat this. It almost destroyed my marriage. We think our health is a personal thing, but that is not true. We are interconnected. Love has to come with responsible behavior.
Vegans are also missing out on our wild edibles. Our ancestors enjoyed a wide variety of wild edibles. Dandelion, clover, violet, dock, plantain, just a few that will happily grow anywhere, and are far more nutritious than what we can get in our stores. We need to get this valuable information back to the mainstream, so they can get those micro-nutrients, and power packed nutrition, back in our diets. I became vegan 10 years ago , and because I have these valuable plants growing in my own back yard, I can definitely say: It's not about calories, it's about nutrient dense foods. As more people become vegans this information will be vital, for health and sustainable living. Thanks for all you do!! We love your videos!!!
this video makes me want to keep eating meat. Opiods are not an active ingredient in heroin. opiods are a class of drug, under which herion falls. Cheese is like morphine? Uh no, it tastes good. It's just that simple. He cites studies that do tests on animals... hypocritical? pokes fun at a hypothetical "fat doctor." "Meats are seasoned with plants for a reason" ... are you f'n kidding??? Flash a primitive bar graph of BMI on the screen for less than a second with no source and somehow you're making a legitimate point? Make people watch movies to understand your lifestyle choice. "Yes mum, I've decided that I'm gay. To help you understand, here's a list of documentaries you should watch." This man has a very skewed view of reality, in spite of being apparently informed in some ways Why vegans fail? Because their diet is unnatural. No strictly vegan culture has ever lasted in history. Animal protein is part of our diet.
Awesome video, Mic! We can help a portion of that 1/3 population! We veganize a common dish every week! Many people out there doing what we do and trying to make it easy and accessible. We hope anyone still lacking the motivation can feel inspired to go on what we think is the most fun food expedition they'll ever go on!
For one of my registered dietician assignments, I was making standardized recipes, and the HACCP plan is super simple with the vegan food in the recipe. There is almost no chance of a food borne illness if people eat vegan foods, and 135 degrees F is the only temperature that anybody needs to know for cooking foods. Cooking meat is complicated. I'm glad I never cooked meat.
"They tried to make me go to cheehab" doesn't have quite the same ring to it . . . . I too think the main obstacle is ignorance of the most basic vegan diet, a whole food one, and its attributes of being economical, feasible, and satisfying if one consumes sufficient calories. Thanks for posting.
Excellent points, Mic. I could imagine insufficient calories being a problem exclusively for those who came to veganism overweight and hoping to lose kilos. Others may be surprised by the mass and volume of veggies required, but won't likely fall off the wagon due to quantity alone. I find that enthusiasm and prior experience cooking whole foods makes veganism easy. Unpressured opportunities to try various diets (vegetarian, fruitarian, Asian Buddhist, Mediterranean, Mexican, etc) demonstrates vast possibilities. Expecting veganism to be effortless nearly guarantees failure. One needs to be confident in the health aspects. I believe one needs to be willing to shop and cook for themselves (others, processed foods, and restaurants are unreliable). The vegan community places too much emphasis on strict and absurd perfection. It's wonderful to raise concerns over and avoid palm oil, insect dyes, bone bleached sugar, and trace animal products, and these efforts encourage the production and availability of ethical alternatives. But, vegans should never discourage others from eliminating the most overt suffering and exploitation. We need to encourage and expand the "vegan club" (I applaud fruitarians who've generally recognized x0% fruit as fulfilling the definition).
Great video! Earthlings just did it for me. Made me commit for life. The fact that I couldn't even watch it all just made me realize how ridiculous it was for me to ever consume that stuff again. Neal Barnard's book "Breaking the Food Seduction" is excellent and discusses the opiate effect that cheese/dairy products have on the human brain. Worth a read for anyone struggling with these issues.
I actually think many people are just hypocritical whether they eat meat or not. Most people have a tendency to think what is good or moral for them should be good for everyone. It's subjective who can say what is right or wrong unless your told by someone with videos, documentaries etc. Do what your body tells you to do. But stop pushing your agenda on others, unless they ask or are curious about it. But don't believe that you are the standard of a healthy lifestyle .
What a great point. This makes lots of sense. my hubby and I have recently transitioned and we love it but for him especially he has to make sure to eat a lot of veggies. I just found overnight veggies and I love it, another new staple. Got to keep learning eating. I can do that
Another thing I recommend for people who have time issues is rather than cooking one recipe in bulk is doing your prep work in bulk. Grill a bunch of veggies so that later on in the week you can have some with pasta, or a sandwich, or rice. That way you don't get tired of having the same meal everyday and it cuts down the daily cooking time significantly
This video is a life saver, thanks! I just recently became vegan and I'm dealing with every single one of these concerns, it's like you're reading my mind. I really do think joining some vegan communities will help with the motivation and learning new, preferably easy to prepare recipes. Not sure where you live now but if you're in the NYC area and belong to any vegan groups in the area or know any in the area I'd love to join.
you hit a lot of really good points. I was vegan for three years before I got pregnant and the only reason I quit was because my husband,family and doctor said I should stop from my son's sake. While being vegan I went from being obease and tired all the time to very active and within a normal weight range within 4 months and because I was in high school I was a junk food vegan. But even then I felt better. Family and doctors can play a lot into your choices and it's always better to have a look at actual evidence to make choices. I've went back to vegan about 5 months ago with my husband and son and we have no regrets. we feel better and know we're healthier all round
I will celebrate my 3 years vegan anniversary in September. Made some mistakes. But with the right information ... the doctors and channels like this, I've figured it out. Never felt better. I have to be healthy. Taking the right supplements. Project knowledge on my errands list. No problems, feeling strong, feeling awesome, actually. The yearly flew is not occurring anymore. Really a treat, living like this.
Vegan & lift weights for 32 years here. Still the same size as when I was 12 years old. I am now 54. Don't UNDER eat. And eat close to nature as possible. Cook and raw. It has worked for me my whole life.
I've been vegetarian for over 20 years of my life, which is my entire life, and for the past year I have not eaten any eggs or drank milk. As of recently, I have had no yogurt and no cheese. I can't imagine myself reverting all the way back to my primordial ways, but we will see if I revert back partially in the near future. Cheese is starting to have a funny smell if you ask me.
Thank you so much. As a teenager and into my early 20's, I was a lacto-ovo vegetarian. Eventually I declined to omnivore mostly due to convenience and family pressures. I can confirm that cheese is absolutely addictive. I've been dancing around the idea of going completely vegan for awhile. Keto eating has taught me that I can feel very satiated from avocado. I start my "cheehab" tomorrow.
I'm just popping in to say I love your videos. I really like hearing the scientific and logical side of things, you're very articulate and good at explaining things. I'm a new vegan (partially thanks to you) and it's really helpful and encouraging to have resources to educate and motivate myself and my family.
Ditching meat and dairy fat were enormously beneficial for me, because doing so lowered my cholesterol from 314 to 199. I then tried Veganism for 4 months, with good but not ideal results insofar that my LDL cholesterol refused to drop. My medical tests have revealed on more than one occasion that my LDL is lower, my triglycerides are lower, and my HDL is higher when I adhere to Piscetarianism by eating sardines or Alaskan salmon about twice a week. Eating fish in moderation is recommended by organizations I deem reputable such as the American Heart Association, Harvard Medical School, and Tufts School of Nutrition. These organizations acknowledge that fish have varying levels of contamination, but state that the benefits of fish still outweigh the drawbacks. I am susceptible to high cholesterol, and given how strongly implicated high cholesterol is with heart disease, stroke, and dementia, I experiment to figure out how to manage it by any dietary means necessary. Currently what seems ideal for me is to follow the How Not to Die advice of Dr. Greger plus eat fish twice a week, which is a diet that isn't strictly vegan but much more vegan-ish than the typical American diet in which about 30% of calories are from animal products. What does the vegan community say to someone like me who objectively demonstrates that eating like a vegan, although pretty darn healthy, isn't absolutely ideal, at least for a sample size of 1 person?
Thank you for sharing this info and your insight. I am one who aspires to veganism yet still struggles on occasion with giving into cheese on pizza. I also sometimes use small amounts of butter and want to break these habits because I've recently learned of the true suffering of animals used in the dairy industry 😢. The manner in which you present the facts helps motivate me and, in particular, I like your advice to find a vegan meetup group; I plan to do so!
My vegan dishes are comprised of mostly Italian, Mexican, and Indian dishes. Other international cuisines have fewer options, but there are still quite a few dishes to choose from.
RE: Caloric Density: I am starting and my daily staples are rice and beans. Brown rice and pinto beans. I can manage to eat enough calories, that is not a problem. Protein might be a bit of a problem. I need possible 30g-50g more per day. Granted, I get the minimum requirement based on my weight, but that's at moderate activity, and not muscle building. I like cheese. I just started so I don't know if the cravings are going to get me. The worst I might have to do is eat some low fat fish as I acclimate. It is very filling and satiating. I prefer not to eat meat and will go off it completely tho.
I was a bit nervous when I clicked on this video since I’m such a new vegan, it’s been about 1 month and 3 weeks. But I felt relieved when he was naming the reasons. I adjusted to the less calorically dense food very quickly and it’s so easy for me to resist animal products. I’m so motivated to stay vegan and I’m ready to tackle any problems so I can stick with it. The thought of eating meat again disgusts me.
I have an eye doctor friend who became vegan after I showed her the Dvd EATING for about 6 years. Then lately, she joined the Paleo diet wholeheartedly saying that being vegan did nothing to lower her cholesterol and prevent her osteoporosis. So she is on drinking bone broth and eating meat, fish and butter. I saw her numbers though. Her cholesterol went from high to very high. We will see what happens...
26 year vegan here. No failure for me.
brassic5
I'm not cocky. Just stating a fact. I have friends who are 30 and 50 year vegans. So 26 is really no big deal.
Bad ass! Keep it up! I don't know why all of these people think failing is inevitable. They clearly don't understand the connection.
*****
Did you say child? How many people do you know of who have been vegan for 26 years? I didn't say I was 26 years old. I said I have been vegan for 26 years. Big difference. My childhood days are far behind me.
+Jay Jay this is hilarious.
Awww +Jay Jay, I think your millennial style sarcasm has been lost on your unsuspecting victim..I'd say it was mean if I was sure you knew they'd be so deeply trolled >_< +Mark Gailmor, I can't promise it, but I don't think JJ was being serious..In any case, not to worry, 26 years vegan is certainly venerable to most of us!!
It's hard to resist the power of social pressure. If I didn't watch UA-cam and read Dr. Greger's website, I would probably start feeling like I was going crazy, because so many people just don't connect with me when I talk about veganism.
Recently I met someone who used to be vegan for a few years but reverted to eating some animal products because she wanted to "remineralize her body". She urged me to be open to consuming animal products in the future for my health's sake. It's so frustrating sometimes to meet people who followed the vegan diet for a long time but STILL come up with reasons to stop being vegan. I wonder if she reverted because she didn't eat enough calories.
"Remineralize" her body? 😂
I found those people didn't eat enough and were giving in to pressure from family. It's very sad
What minerals was she referring to?lol
Yea probably the calorie thing. When i look at what i eat now which is like 4 meals that normal people eat for one meal then i think most people eat way to little to stay healthy. Also what minerals was she eating only apples or what? :)
I can't even go out to dinner with out the obligatory "I dont understand why you dont eat meat." They would probably have a stroke if I went vegan.
i failed because the first time i was vegan i did it for health reasons. i couldn't resist the temptations to eat meat and cheese again, who i really like the taste of.
after a year i truly educated myself, watched every documentary possible, and now when i'm tempted to eat meat i think of it as a pig, a cow that lost their life in torture. this way is the easiest of resisting it. i would never eat something so sad again.
+talkshh if it's a matter of taste, you can find soooo many vegan products with similar taste :D if it's hard to find them, or they are expensive, you can find recipes to make your own.. after all, what gives meat the taste it has is the way it is cooked. you can make burgers with lentils for example, or try making your own cheese. you really dont have to feel that you are missing that taste!!! good luck, hope this helps :)
I often contemplate under what circumstances I would inflict pain (never) or eat my dog companion (lost in the Arctic?). I look at people and other animals and ask the same questions. What are the differences? The more I do this exercise, I see more clearly no difference between people, my loved ones, unknown animals, and myself.
Veg Ahimsa great comment
Alpha Spearl I started this exercise after discussing with a child who claimed to love all animals. I asked why she ate ham (she did not realize that ham was pig flesh) and asked what the difference was between her dog and a pig.
When I see meat on tv it makes me sick to my stomach. That's how you know I have watched every vegan documentary there is to watch. Lol I'm not going back.
"Meat is seasoned with plants for a reason" haha yesss 😂
So salt which is made from sodium chloride is made from a plant now.
some people claim "organic meat" is good to eat without salt and spices...but I've never seen anyone doing that...
dragonpup, salt is ONE of many spices.
@@nedyalko3089 then you should come to my house :)
@@bonchidude I season minced meat with bacon and nothing else :)
I was vegan for a year and 3 months but fell back into eating meat, dairy and eggs die to feeling unsupported by family. I've recently returned to full veganism.and plan to stay this way for good
Samantha Machen Great to hear! People often don't realise they can just keep trying, if they slip up.
i hope you still vegetarian. the fact that my family dont support me make me wanna go harder (very punk teenager of me)
Hey Samantha are you still vegan?
@@Goodthoughtlol Yes, I am! Feeling healthier than ever and will never turn back :)
@@smachen96 do you drink vegan milk daily?
Been vegan for a year this month. I don't understand why anyone would go back, especially if you know what really happens in animal agriculture. You literally couldn't PAY me to eat animal products ever again. I actually have nightmares sometimes that people are going to force me to eat cheese, LOL. I've gotten healthier this year, no more IBS or high cholesterol, and I haven't been sick at all this year! I usually get sick 3 times a year!
Your profile pic looks like my old skyrim character and her name was Phoenix . I'm sorry I had to say something lol.
A year isn't long enough to start feeling the deficiency veganism has. Don't get ahead of yourself, watch your face first. You can start seeing a health decline when you lose fat around your eyes and on your jaw line. If you have IBS be careful, eating large portions and lots of fiber will make it worse
Hey phoenix are you still vegan?
There's also a lot of people just waiting for you to slip up, fail in some way. I'm new to the vegan lifestyle going on 5 months, and no matter how much I tell everyone that it has truly given me a renewed sense of purpose, that I'm happier or how passionate I feel about it (even when I express myself with extreme passion, i.e. getting into mini heated debates with family members about why veganism is amazing,important, better, necessary, etc). There are many who say "Oh this just a phase", "next year you'll be eating turkey with us again". It's pretty condescending and annoying. Every vegan starts somewhere, not all of us were born vegan, and didn't wake up one day to a fast forward of being vegan for over a year. Not that it's discouraging me at all, if anything that can give a person the extra push to be the best vegan/human version of themselves they can be, but man, it's a very common, and annoying response to get when you're doing something that you love.
yea be careful with the negative vibes. try to stick with like of mind specialY if you feel your drifting back lol.
I hear you. I've had to avoid ordering dishes that even sound vegetarian/vegan (veggie burgers, vegetarian this, vegan that) and opt for a salad instead so that certain family members only think it's just me trying to be healthy. Of course, I've only been doing this a few months, so maybe they'll change their minds eventually, but gosh is it annoying!
when they are wrong about it being a phase, remember how poor their judgement is when future points of contention arise.
SM R same! People keep asking 'so when are you going to eat meat again?....how long are you not going to eat meat?" And I just reply "for as long as I can. Hopefully for the rest of my life..." Then a year later when they see me they say "oh you still don't eat meat?! I thought that was just a phase!"
SM R I totally agree I had been vegan for 6 months and I have to say I've not found it difficult as I was vegetarian to start although I've eaten meat too in the past, before going vegetarian..and I've been buying cruelty free products for over 20years now so I needed that last push as I found it hard at the time to give up milk and yogurt's not cheese, but educational research helped with that I suspect alot of people resonate with what you experience I know I have and I'm in my 40s! wishing you and all the other UA-camrs luck and positive thoughts to the one who are finding it difficult.....💜😉🐝
Gave up cheese, started heroin. No regrets!
That would help with the weight issue, too. ;)
😂 super quick weight loss following with “life loss!” Lol
LH EF 😆🌱❤️
😂😂😂
LOL now you can avoid dairy products and die hallucinating about all the cows you saved :)
You know what I love about your stuff?
It's not all frilly and full of vegan bologna and shaming of meat eaters like all of the other vegan youtubers I have come across. I have been focusing my diet on plant based foods for the past year with no restriction on dairy, eggs or honey and having small amounts of meat here and there so as to not offend family members with whom I have not shared my goal of going vegan.
The last month-ish or so I have cut meat out of my diet completely and am now working on learning how to comfortably transition into veganism so I don't shock my body and brain and bounce right back out of it again (like I have done several times in the past).
Your videos are doing such a fantastic job at explaining things from a logical standpoint and not just shaming every non-vegan out there about contributing to the brutal mass murder of millions of cute fluffy animals (I'm looking at you, Sorsha).
Obviously, that is part of it, but I am a farm girl and grew up raising our own food which meant physically being a part of the butcher process and as a result I am fairly desensitized to the whole thing (I think I just heard several vegans audibly gasp...)
I have tried doing it "for the animals" but as much as I love them, I will probably always have the mindset that they are livestock.
I had to find a new way, I had to find new motivation. My motivation this time around is pretty selfish, I am doing it for myself. I physically feel healthier and less weighed down when I do not eat animal products, specifically meat. Your educational videos debunking all of the myths about things like soy, vitamin deficiencies, human evolution etc have really given me the push I needed.
Sorry I wrote you a novel, but what I am trying to say is Thank you for what you are doing here.
Thanks for the kind words. I too am quite desensitized to animal suffering as my social media feeds are often dominated by animal rights activists showing slaughter footage and I am generally a highly tolerant person to gore. I also went vegan for mainly selfish health reasons but then when I looked in at animals as someone who isn't contributing to that system I would finally see chickens as more than vegetables with legs, etc. Then doing research on the Cambridge Declaration of Consciousness and animals suffering helped a bit. It's amazing how much we overlook. Pigs can recognize themselves in the mirror which is fucking nuts. Anyway, glad you are feeling better with the change.
I have gone vegetarian for ethical reasons - yeah,I know vegans will say it is not good enough but doing my best and not eating a lot of dairy or eggs - and am finding the same that I feel less weighed down without meat,although I am eating more veg.
Amanda,going vegan for your health reasons is not selfish at all. It is just good sound wisdom. I am working on transitioning to a vegan lifestyle and it is for health and nutritional reason. There is nothing wrong or selfish about trying to improve and take care of your health. There is also nothing wrong with not being against animals for food. God put animals here for us to use for many things including food and clothing,among other things. I grew up eating meat and animal products and hunting and fishing and I still have nothing against that at all. What would we do if everyone became vegan overnite? What would we do with all those animals? Who would pay for feeding them? I could go on and on but I won't for now... Bottom line is do what is best for you and know that taking care of yourself and your health is a good thing and not a selfish thing or bad thing at all. And don't let anyone guilt you into thinking there is something wrong with you if you don't jump on the anti animals bandwagon. Some of us choose to remain balanced in our thinking and don't have to follow everything thing someone else tells us we have too. Take care of yourself. I plan too because no one else will.
Amanda Hufford totally agree with you I'm doing the same.
lucaboden cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol, and obesity suck, but you can continue to set you path to forming these diseases If you are a big meat eater who hates vegans lol
I've been vegetarian for a few years and vegan for 4 months and I can say with whole confidence that I will NEVER, NEVER consume animal products again. I don't understand how someone could go back
Be careful. Many've said similar and slipped down one slope of another. Strive for perfection but forgive yourself and others when you're not.
Absolutely! I completely feel you there. Once you make that connection it's there for life. No hen period or rotten cows milk could sway you when the planet is on the line!
The statistics line up with my experience. New "born again" vegans are most vocal and aggressive and seem to be the ones most likely to quit (at least those most pitifully memorable). A third of vegans quit within three months, half quit within the year.
you may never do it intentionally, but yes, one day you will consume something from an animal, it's how you react that's important.
It's good that you have confidence but I must say something and not many vegans or vegetarians understand this but I have 3 times tried going vegan I never rushed my body into veganism but I became sick carbs and sugar put a lot of stress on my body they make me tired have to much sugar and I will sleep for two days along with my body slows down if carbs are involved I never had carbs as a child and I was energetic did sports every year. My main primary source other than milo products was meat and a wide range of vegetables no nuts. I have yet to meet a vegan that can understand and not act like I'm hitler.
After being vegan for 2 years, animal products are no longer food to me. When I'm hungry or I haven't eaten enough, my body doesn't start craving cheese and meat, it starts craving high fat vegan food. Non-vegan food is no longer an option for me.
I'm sort of like that; my weakness is actually pasta so I buy a high fiber version, weigh it on my kitchen scale and don't eat it more than 2x a mo. Works for me!
I must be the only person in the world that never liked cheese all that much.
I don't like cheeses either mate.
+jamd1421 lucky you! i loved it so much , i used to eat a lot of cheese every day... finally i went vegan last month and tbh i get so full with everything i eat that i dont need it or crave it anymore!
mdk yk Damn
I always hated cheese! Damm the smell is bad :(
same, never liked the smell or taste really unless it was wit other things and even still it was just meeh
Don't hesitate decreasing your consumption of animal products even if you don't want to go fully vegan! Every little step into the direction towards veganism is good! And don't feel too bad if you slip up once, just forgive yourself, think about what caused the slip up and how you could avoid that in the future and move on!
So many people eat meat with every meal of every day of their lives and it’s just not healthy
Two years into my veganism I started eating small amounts of meat and dairy again. My excuse was I was having post partum depression and put on Wellbutrin. Little did I know but that drug was making my anxiety sky rocket and I was getting dizzy spells. Paranoia led to me worrying about nutrients (not having any blood tests or anything.) Time went on, things got better, I figured out wth was going on and went vegan again. Been vegan for three years now after the slip and I'm in such a better place emotionally and in my health education. I am still ashamed that I went through that period, but I am incredibly happy now that I'm back where I'm supposed to be. :)
So... What do you eat now?
I was on wellbutrin for years but found I no longer needed it after a short time on my vegan diet. Cheers on your return to plant-based eating!
I never realised the failure rate was so high! I knowingly 'cheated' on maybe a dozen occasions during my first year as vegetarian, but haven't felt the urge in years, especially once I finally went vegan. I wonder if the failure rate drops off after a certain amount of time as a vegan. Are there any studies on that? Awesome channel by the way, deserves many more subs.
Michael Dello-Iacovo just your health drops away the longer you stay vegan. You age faster lose muscle mass then go insane.
It could have a lot to do with the fact that American society is not very self disciplined. I went vegan 23 years along with my wife. We both have had no problem staying on this diet. It has so many benefits. Both my brother, and sister have also gone vegan. Unfortunately our daughter once she left home picked up a bunch of bad eating habits and goes back and forth between vegan, and vegetarian diet. It is the processed food that I fear are really making her over weight. My wife and I still weight the same as we did when we got married 33 years ago. 150 lbs and 85 lbs. We are both healthy, happy and very active.
i know you posted this 2 months ago. How tall is your wife if you dont mind me asking? Because the average weight of an 11 year old girl is 81.5 Lbs while the average weight of a 12 year old girl is 90 lbs. And your wife is 85 lbs?
She is 5 foot even.
Your wifes BMI is 16.6 which is 1.9 lower then 18.5 which 18.5 is still a bare minimum for what is considered a healthy weight. She is underweight, and should try to put on some weight. If she gained 15 lbs being at 100 lbs her bmi would increase to 19.53 being slightly over whats considered a "healthy weight." No hate towards you just trying to help! :)
If she wasn't on the run so much and so active she might put on a pound or two. She says she feels good, and her doctors say she is doing fine. Just a little under weight.
Vagues et Vent Because being underweight isn't healthy. I was taking the initiative I'm just saying when you weigh the average weight of a 9 year old girl something is up. I have no doubt she is healthy, but she could gain more weight if she wished to. Did not intend an argument, please lets end this on a good note 😊
I don't get how vegans wouldn't get enough calories, like I need to eat less calories and I'm vegan 😂
Me too. But I like peanut butter and pancakes too much.
+Emma Green exactly! And veggie sticks and popcorn and bread and pasta and so many things! But especially chocolate haha
LloydChristmas777 problem is that there are plenty of vegan junk foods too!
+LloydChristmas777 agreed
Katie Fleming I think it's unfair to hold vegans to such standards.... we are just people who don't eat animal products.
Under-eating was the reason I failed so many times. It took me over 8 years before I finally learned how to eat right & #Vegan.
Such a wonderful video. !!
And how you finally learned how to eat right? :)
I suppose it depends on where you live and so what access you have to all different types of vegan food/places including vegan junk food. But ive never understood why even new vegans would fall back into there omni state when there are so many mock meats and cheeses that are very scaringly similar.
It's so hard for me to get enough calories. That's my challenge. Im too small to lose weight as it is and I don't want to lose muscle, and I think I'm smaller now in that sense. I've been vegan 8 months. I get so full fast but I have used chronometer many times and I'm always a few hundred calories under:/ not including my daily workouts. I think I just need to make more calorie loaded shakes.
The more you limit grains/sugars and fats, the harder it is to get all the calories in. While it's possible to live on beans, fruits, and vegetables, I don't like to have massive poops 2-3 times a day. So I have upped the fat and grains, and now I couldn't complain. However, I will always choose to fast or buy fruit from a grocery store if I'm far from home without provisions.
Thalía de Montserrat Forcada Heras I'm not her, but if you need a solution then I would recommend watching Mic's "What I Eat Every Day" video and checking out the recipes on the sites and channels he lists there.
As a vegetarian I was always tolerated and understand by anyone and I always found food for me on menus in resturants. Nobody really minded that I don't eat meat. Now I started to talk about that I want to go vegan and many people have been going crazy about it. Some relatives even said to me that I shouldn't do it because it would change me to much...
cruelaz Hi, did you go vegan? I've recently become fully plant-based, but I just keep saying that I'm vegetarian to keep people off my back.
Damn that's impressive, but how have you not died of malnutrition? (sarcasm)
Well, don't talk about it. Just do it :-)
"Listening to my body to have dairy and eggs"... means cravings. It's simply a cop out and a euphamism for cravings. If I "listened to my body" when I drive by or walk near a fast food restauant smelling the grease (fries) or near a hot dog stand smelling the hot dogs and greasy fried onions, then I would fall off the healthy plant based diet as well. I listen to my conscious engaged mind for all the reasons not to eat that shite instead of "listening to my (cravings) body" then I grab an apple or something.
Heard Patrick Baboumian give a talk where he made a really good point about the chemical addiction for dairy - it's there to create a bond between the baby and the mother. So when we do cut out dairy from other mammals it's like taking the mother relationship away from a grown baby.
IMO you need to have more than one reason to stay vegan. Health was my first concern to dig into veganism but animal welfare is what keep me in after more than 5 years. Being remotivated through a vegan comunity is very important as you mention and chanels like Dr. Greger are also very important for me.
Thanks for the video. You are doing a great job
Pretty much same with me
Hey Agustn are you still vegan?
"Nutritional advice from your fat doctor."
I choked on my water.
You forgot crabs in a bucket syndrome...how people subconciously try to bring others down if they see someone trying to make positive changes or growing....
The key to that is: never talk about your plans. Just do what you want to.
Just subscribed! I was one of those people. I'm 49 and have on again off again tried to go either vegetarian or vegan but couldn't get over the brainwashing But now with UA-cam and facing the truth and not
Hiding from it. I will never go back. I just watch videos everyday like yours and truly researching and educating myself so I do it right. I feel so much guilt and anger for being so ignorant and blind to the truth for so long. but I'm here now and it's thankfully to people like you that have helped me💜
COMPASSION has kept me vegan.
My first month going vegan wasn't easy....I'm not gonna lie. I had been on the most unhealthy diet....ever before going vegan. Basically, I drank a energy drink for breakfast, one around lunch, and ate whatever I wanted for dinner. I didn't eat like that to lose weight, I was just busy and yet last when it came to taking care of myself. Once I decided (for ethical reasons) to go vegan, I realized those energy drinks weren't filling me up anymore and by dinner time I was cranky and starving. So, I eliminated the energy drinks and started eating lunch and having a smoothie for breakfast. This worked much better, but KILLED my stomach at first. My stomach wasn't use to having to digest food all day. Plus, I was actually getting fiber and healthy foods in my body which took awhile to make me "regular"' However, once I got use to it, I have never felt better. Who knew that cutting out all those "energy" drinks and actually eating healthy foods would ACTUALLY give me ENERGY?!?! Lol! I realized that the ONLY reason veganism was painful for me was because of the abuse I had done to myself. At one point during that first month, I wanted to cheat, but my husband talked some sense into me....thankfully! :-) Since then and since realizing my food needs, I have never been tempted to cheat again! I am so thankful that my husband and sons went vegan when I did. It's great to have that support and to have people to keep you accountable. As the mother of two children, I realize that they are watching and learning from me. I have to be strong in my veganism to keep them strong and that motivates me as well. Also, quick question. Does meat and dairy take a lot longer to work through your system than plant foods? I wonder this because before....I didn't starve, honestly. I just never had the urge to eat during the day when I was drinking my energy drinks and having a high animal fat dinner. That same way of eating didn't work after going vegan because after a plant based dinner, I was always too hungry the next day to just drink energy drinks. Thankfully veganism got me out of that horrible cycle! Also, I have been LOSING WEIGHT while eating more! I thought I just couldn't lose weight before, but now I think that my previous diet was killing my metabolism.
Yes, typical animal foods take several hours longer to pass through the digestive system (some of it actually clog up your system). Though, there is a lot of variability of all types. Water and simple sugars are absorbed very quickly. Fats inhibit cellular energy absorption. . It is common that vegans lose weight early but then gain back some weight later -- though typically maintain a healthy ideal weight consuming low fat, whole, healthy, plants. . Please take your B12 (and D if inadequate sunlight). Best of luck, health, and happiness to you and your family.
+Alison Self Glad to hear you have real energy now!
Meat and dairy are high fat foods which means you get more calories per bite. That is why fake meat and cheese can be useful during a transition, because they usually have the same amount of fat as meat so you don't go hungry. Avocadoes, nut butter, and other higher fat plant foods might be useful to keep yourself full, especially if you aren't used to eating a lot of volume.
I haven't seen evidence that meat digests any slower or faster than other foods with the same ratios of fat and protein, though there are studies showing that undigested meat proteins make it into your colon, in which they ferment into nasty and toxic hydrogen sulphide or rotten egg gas, contributing to colitis. As this study shows, up to 12 grams of meat protein can do this: ajcn.nutrition.org/content/32/10/2094.full.pdf
Yes an energy drink a day will certainly mess with your metabolism/adrenals. I am glad to hear you are eating real food though!
you need to watch Freeleethebananagirl's videos here on youtube to be able to really understand exactly how much you can eat on this lifestyle! looool watch her what I eat in a day videos and brace yourself. Though I wouldn't do the whole eating more fat thing to feel fuller as that can lead to weight gain and low energy levels and can even restrict your carbohydrate calorie intake that may lead to quitting being vegan. It's great having your family's support...I got mine from my parents after months of educating them and unbrainwashing them of all the propaganda of the meat and dairy industry! hahaha but thankfully they are on board now and have become pure vegetarians, soon to be vegans!
+Gunjan Verma Eating a fruit-based diet is incredibly dangerous in the long run and I do not consider Freelea a good ambassador for veganism when she is constantly engaging in fat shaming.
Why is a fruit-based diet incredibly dangerous?
One way to _kind've_ stay vegan to not think cheating is the end. So, you ate some cheese. Your friends ordered a pizza. It was the only food in the house. It smelled great. You hadn't eaten before you joined them. Ok. It's done. Now, be vegan again.
+Im Yu if you're plant based, you can cheat. If you're vegan, you don't and would never want to.
also there are situations like your town is not even vegetarian friendly, so you eat out and they have veggie burger but with some dairy based sauce in it which they don't want to replace with ketchup for some reason, so you either eat it and having a normal time or you end up with fries and hunger
@@earthlingxx6168 Whether you're health-based &/or ethical, &/or just the way you were brought up, you're human. Situations can lead you off-course. Unless you change the definition of 'vegan' to "one who's never fucked up, & never will.
I've been vegan for 8 years and was vegetarian for about 12 before that with the excuse of "I can't give up cheese." When I did, my skin cleared up, and now I can't even stomach the vegan cheeses. I just have no taste for it anymore, and I'm so glad.
I obsessively eat healthy, if I know something is unhealthy I just don't like putting it into my body anymore. That is part of what keeps me from slipping up even a bit.
Counting calories is so important! I was sure I'm eating a lot, too much in fact. I was even worried I'd gain weight. And then I did the math. Turned out I was eating only about a 1000 kcal, which clearly is not even close to being enough. Did the more math, kept track of my intake and bam! It works ^^
+AnHeC Wow that's nothing!! Glad you did that or imagine where you would be :/
+AnHeC Eating incredibly healthy lentils and let's say, red rice (highest antiox content), will give you a great amount of calories if you were deficient. As a tall male, I have no problem maintaining a healthy weight without counting calories on a plant-based diet. I think too often legumes are overlooked.
Blaice
Dude, I'm full after one slice of bread. I cook 40 grams of oats because I am not able to eat more in one sitting. Trust me, even with lentils it's a job to eat enough (welcome to life after eating disorders).
i'm vegan i never count calories. i'm slim and healthy.
Mic, have you read the Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg? He talks about a habit loop: the trigger, the behavior, and the reward. It would be interesting to address vegan failure through this lens. Food and eating are powerful triggers so unless you reprogram the behavior or reward, you're exerting will power. The book highlights research that contends that willpower is a like a muscle and it can fatigue. It can also be strengthened similar to our muscles. Something to look into if you weren't already familiar.
I will definitely look into it. Thanks.
There was never a choice for me after learning the truth. Either I go and stay vegan or...I'm a piece shit who couldn't live with themselves. Not really a choice there. Good video, though. I had to use cronometer the first month or so after going vegan to make sure I was eating enough and getting proper balance nutrients (something I never bothered to do eating a SAD).
chapachuu, you must be fun at parties. Vegan cult' righteous, huu?
Opposite problem for me with the 'lack of food/variety', I'm thinking "damn, I'm not going to be THAT hungry to make all the recipes I want to try today"
I am so glad I find such joy out of eating healthy. Real foods with real flavors. Have been vegan for about 9 months now and I feel great! I am 35 years old and I am back to my high school weight. And I am as ripped as I was in high school... I am never turning back... can't even look at meat without seeing the animal being slaughtered
I HATE when people say veganism is expensive! I spend 20-30 dollars every two weeks on food and it lasts me the entire time. That's 2-3 dollars a day. All meals, snacks, and dessert concluded. The people who use this excuse are the same people that think eating at McDonald's is the cheapest. Even when I changed all my cosmetics it was cheaper than the non-vegan cosmetic options.
+Joyce Meyer would you mind sharing your shopping list or products you recommend?
imsmartwater It normally varies between fruits and veggies depending on what's on sale. But I normally get multiple different beans (mostly black beans for multiple recipes), spinach, kale, rice, apples (since they're normally pretty cheap), ooatmeal and bananas are my first go-to's. Oh, and a variety of frozen veggies, or canned if they're cheaper :) I hope this helps!
thanks so much!
I don't think it's possible for me, a 5' 11" male, to practically live vegan on 2-3 dollars a day. I budget 10 bucks a day and that can be rough because I like to eat mostly raw and diversely.
I feel like im only Vegan who has no problem getting in enough calories, lol
What do you eat?
Yea what do you eat?
You're not the only one!
Cooking with Plants is a lovely low-fat, plant-based UA-cam recipe channel. The cooking instructions are very clear and the presenter is excellent. I think lack of calories is an interesting point. It's tempting to think we're missing certain nutrients, etc. but I think the calorie factor might often be overlooked.
2 kg (5 lbs) of carrots provide nearly all vitamins, minerals, and protein required in a day (low B12, D, E, zinc, iodine, fats). It can be done, but that's a lot of chewing. :)
+Veg Ahimsa besides it will give you a lovely yellow glow - go for the tangoed look....balance and variety is the key
Freshly blended (but not juiced) carrots would provide even more nutrient absorption.
Hi Mic. the Vegan. Just had the most upsetting conversation with my mum as she was going on about water useage whilst constantly consuming meat, so much bloody meat! I never normally talk about why I am vegan to most of my family as it is too upsetting. Randomly put some ear plugs in and was scrolling through google and repeating to myself "keep your mouth shut, keep your mouth shut". Anyway it was great to find your channel. I live in a tiny rural regional town in Australia where beef is king so it made me feel a little bit sane to find your channel. Thank Mic. the Vegan.
My family keeps asking me every holiday if I'm still vegan. And they still keep forgetting what it really means: what? Not even eggs? 😂🤔
I've been a vegan for about 10 years, maybe longer. The vast majority of people would be overwhelmed by all all the nutritional details your expecting people to pay attention to. Like many nutrition enthusiasts you assume that everybody can process all this complexity easily and eagerly. Vegans fail because generally veganism is a very unwelcome, fractious, confusing, drama-ridden culture. It's also totally dominated by recipes and foodie-ism. I'm also not into the New Atheist, science-zealot movement. They're as boorish as evangelical Christians. And yes, it is elitist. Wealthier vegans nitpick lower income vegans and tell them to "eat vegan cake", pointing to all sorts of expensive products to achieve some sort of vegan perfection. I could write a book on why vegans fail. I'm vegan for the animals and I'll be a vegan for life. But on most other levels. I don't like being a vegan.
I'm fairly new to veganism, and had been vegetarian for a bit when I was younger. Cheese definitely led to me giving up vegetarianism. My doctor told me I was addicted to the cheese and I thought he was the crazy one when he confiscated my cheese. I'm dead serious. I have some autoimmune disorders and I have to say, veganism is greatly improving my quality of life, aside from the obvious benefits to animals.
Cost wise, I just spent LESS on stocking my kitchen with all vegan food stuffs than I would have normally spent on groceries that are non-vegan.
I think your videos are great. You've been a big help to me.
Being vegetarian was too hard? Dude when I was vegetarian it was the easiest thing to do you just don't eat meat that's it.
If people do it for health reasons alone, they're more likely to fail. I didn't educate myself enough about vegetarianism (which was just a stepping stone to veganism though I didn't know it at the time) & only skimmed the surface of health & ethical reasons; that's why I failed multiple times. But with thorough education, I can no longer look at meat, dairy or eggs without thinking of the animal that suffered for the pleasure of humans.
Kelly Elekels That is very true I actually recently found out I was deficient in minerals and vitamins. I found out it was not my vegan diet per se but it was due to the fact that I still ate like shit on a vegan diet. But once I started eating right it has slowly gotten better.
I live in a little Russian town. I started as an animal rights and rescue activist and then became vegan for ethical reasons so to be honest it didn't matter to me how it would affect my health. However, what I noticed after the first few days is how energetic and light (in a good way) I felt. I have a lot of health issues I was born with and was told they are incurable but I felt the dramatic improvement. My pain lessened, I got my appetite back which I haven't had since I was a toddler! I'm excited about food and don't feel nausea and discomfort afterwards. I didn't even think it was possible for me to not feel nauseous after I eat lol! I am calmer, kinder, I am less reactive and I bounce back after hardships more easily. As for the cost it's not at all more than meet. I found soy milk that costs the same (and even less! depending on the brand) than actual milk. Plus once I stopped consuming dairy I understood I am lactose intolerant. I just could not accept it before since everyone told me I needed dairy. I eat grains (lentils,beans,rice,etc), pasta, veggies, tofu, vegan bread, soy milk, fruit. No fancy vegan stuff. No fake meets or fake cheese or anything. I take B12 but I actually was prescribed to take it before I went vegan. B12 deficiency is NOT a vegan thing. Most of people are b12 deficient. I don't buy any proteins in powders and stuff. So compare it with the price of meet and it's not expensive at all. And I live in a cold region where veggies and fruit are not that cheap. So I think people fail because they try to live the same instead of trying new foods. They waste all that mental energy trying to replace cheese and hot dogs and so on. Instead, have fun with exploring new foods, new recipes. I also got back into sports! It's incredible. And I work long hours, my job is very demanding physically but I handle it even better than before.
Thank god I found your channel, you give out very useful information and help educate me on nutrition. One small UA-cam comment can't show my true thanks, but really Thank You.
+The_Galaxy's_Dog Thanks for the kind words. Glad to help!
I also was a really big meat,cheese and eggs lover. Almost all of my days started with 3 or 4 eggs, about 200 grams of cottage cheese and some type of meat. And i thought i was eating healthy! i thought my energy levels were normal. Now, looking back, i feel like i was literally asleep and fatigued all of my life. I tried going vegetarian once before, and at some point, i simply didn't gave a shit anymore. I didn't know why i was doing it for. But, i've been working out for about 2 years now and started to research and understand the importance of vegetables and micronutrients. Eating animal products, i always struggled hitting even 15 grams of fiber a day. At some point it became an obsession. So i researched some more and stumbled upon the science and doctor Greger, and i had one of my biggest AHA moments in my life. I finally understood the WHY's and the HOW TO's. Transitioning to a WFPB vegan diet was super easy for me. Now i'm studying to become a plant based nutritionist and i found my passion: to help people understand and find their health, balance, and true nature. P.S. your channel is awesome, thank you for what you're doing!
EAT ENOUGH CALORIES!!! I cannot stress this enough!!!
I'm glad you repeated this because most ex vegans I know always tell me 'I was hungry all the time' or 'my body was needing cheese' and I'm like hell no you're body needed cheese, you were just craving fats. so if you ever find yourself craving cheese, eat some nuts or seeds. they'll fill you up and they're healthy and cruelty free!!
also, EAT! just think about babies and how they cry when they're hungry or small children get cranky without food. There's a reason some people say that the way to the heart is through food: you'll be happy if you're well fed. Eat every 4 hours and add some fat to your food (no, not all fat is bad). Avocados, walnuts, cashew nuts, pistachios, almonds, sesame seeds, even tofu! they'll fill you up for longer and they're super healthy
"Meat is seasoned with plants for a reason"
Exactly! That's what I always try to tell people. You can make anything taste good with seasoning, it's not the meat.
You're really motivating me, being vegan was something always in my mind and now it has been a week since I'm vegan. There are many obstacles, especially the social obstacles are kinda annoying. However, results of the first week is so good that makes me want to see what happens in a long term. I sleep and wake up better, I used to be a binge eater but now I only eat when I feel hungry, haven't had a single acne this week. My family tries to convince me that it's not healthy, I think I'll try to convince them, for their own good...
I am vegan for a few days at a time then fall back into vegetarian cuz cheese. I repelled all candy on halloween last night and I think I'm finally at that point where I've had cheese for the last time. It gets more gross each time I give in. I'm gonna do it!
I am just starting to become vegan.
can i just say teens and veganism are a hard mix i dont feel that he quite gets that im an adult but i know what its like when u constantly have ur parents and people who are supposed to be ut friends turn around and cuss u down or restrict u for doing things because its apparently either a stupid phase or apparently ull die. i understand that teens do stupid things sometimes but the treatment is horrible...
I've been binge watching your channel!! you are so amazing!! thank you so much for all the information, details and well thought out videos. I'm raising 3 vegan sons ages 7, 12, and 15, hubby is also vegan. I've been vegetarian for about 8 years and vegan for 4. This particular video I felt was very important because it addresses so much of what vegan's contend with. For me it's keeping myself educated. Keeping the eyes and faces of the pigs and cows at the forefront of my mind and reminding my family constantly. I want to be able to do more activism and include my family so that when my sons are older and making more of their own dietary choices (i.e. cook for themselves) they won't end up like these statistics! LOVE LOVE LOVE what you are doing :)
"meat is seasoned with plants for a reason..." great saying! :) the reason why im not a failed vegan is because i never really liked cheese. i ate it seldomly and was never crazy about it. i know many people who a literally addicted to cheese. sad. the biggest struggle i have is social presure, but i try to not give a damn about it.
Hi mic, I have failed :'( and I am so sad about it ... but I have stomach problems and often can't eat raw fruit or veggies, I don't know what to do... but I still eat 70% vegan, just not 100%. I think it's important to not loose everything because you failed, just keep on going and try ti go back on track.
Great video, I sincerely hope you start gaining in popularity. I've been vegan for just under two months now and I definitely think I'm not getting enough calories, I'll go an entire meal sometimes and eat nothing besides a single banana... which isn't exactly healthy.
+Hexic Dragon Check out this link, it's full of great advice for new vegans or ex-vegans who want to get back to it. Veganism can be easy! www.reddit.com/r/vegan/comments/2zucd7/if_you_are_against_animal_oppression_want_to_go/
When I see your older videos from two years ago..I realize I wasnt vegan then and I would have been the person advocating for cheese and eggs.Keep doing what you're doing! Anyone can change with the right information!
I think your spot on with the cheese. I eat mostly vegan, but the cheese calls to me. I am going to watch those videos you suggest to get motivated. Love your channel, just subscribed. 👍🏻
+N Scheese It's amazing isn't it?! When you think really hard about cheese, there is nothing logical about why you crave it so much more than other foods. I didn't get it until I heard about the opiates. Glad you like it :)
I like how you said “a round of earthlings” because that’s really all you need 😭
I find people dumb when they say the go back to eating meat because they didn't feel good or had issues with iron or something, yet are perfectly OK with risking a hearth attack, stroke, cancer, diabetes.. And I guess taking an iron supplement is just too much to ask for... *rolls eyes.. I know they weren't eating enough or eating the right foods but they just wanted an excuse. I think the inconvenience and social factor is the main causes for that and a lack of cooking their own meals and eating the right foods as well.
Honestly, you are legitimately my favorite vegan help source
Number One: Not enough STARCH.
Was a vegan for seven years, started eating dairy again for three, recently went vegan again (after reading Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer). I stopped being vegan because I was traveling and couldn't always find vegan options and the second reason was none of my friends or relatives are vegan, so there was definitely a huge social aspect. I'm really excited to be back on the bandwagon, I haven't looked back.
When I removing high caloric food (cheese) when I switched to veganism I lost about 20 lbs before I figured out I needed to add more calories to my diet. Mmmmm avocados.....
main reason why i gave up being vegan was i was too hard on myself when i craved something like cheese + societal pressure and everyone around you being so okay with not being aligned with such an obvious benign choice. it makes you feel crazy and out of control. i'm feeling confident i can go back because it was the best i felt in my life mentally and physically, and it was only for a few months too. thank you so much for existing Dx
That's why I suggest people start off as vegetarians first. Get that diet under control than advance
xavier wilson Also, I would say to plan out and incorporate more vegan meals while transitioning so it's not too jarring. For some people though, like myself, it's better to just get all animal products out of the house so you don't have a chance to relapse, assuming you have vegan options available.
xavier wilson that's what I'm doing, although I don't label myself as either one. I've been making more vegan foods at home and buying a lot of fruit which seems to be working.
There are meat products even in sweets! Not only gelatin, but also shellack (aka crushed lice). Meh.
Like Mic said in the beginning - the number one 'health' fix for most people: get accustomed to eat more. Esp. for women eating more (and stuffing yourself a bit) is still associated with so much shame... The average plant food has more fiber, more nutrients, but less energy. Which will lead you to feel full faster. So you gotta make it a habit to eat a bit more than you "feel" like.
I think that we shouldn't be be so hard on our selves if we "fail" do your best and know who you are. Just don't ever stop. If you really feel like you want meat, try to do it in the most humane way that you can. This is not a religion, this is a choice.
stop shopping at Publix and Whole Foods and it won't be as expensive. There are Aldi, Trader Joe's, Farmer"s markets
I tend to eat meat like once a week and I would feel bad because something DEAD is inside me. I need stuff that grows the good shet.
UltraBlooz X The transition to veganism is worth it in the long run 👍🏼
Lil B's 1000 Year Old Vans ya man thanks I know. It's been February of 2016 I've started but I never gave up. As each month goes I get a little serious. My only problem is vegan candy and EXTRA sugar.(400 to 600 grams of sugar)
UltraBlooz X Keep on keepin' on!
***** no there not go read areal book.
***** Plants don't have brains and there for don't feel any pain. Therefore it's been shown that they don't have a CNS. What you could be talking about is how plants evolved to protect themselves like poison.
Even though my veganism began for my desire to avoid the dread diseases my parents, grandparents and sister died of, and then my husband's cancer, now I find meat gross and care a lot about the animals. To me it is not difficult to remain vegan. The greatest challenge was having to eat out and then learning how to be firm but nice so that I can eat what keeps me feeling well. I really don't care if celebrities fail at veganism, to me they are not only physically plastic but as emotionally so. The health benefits and knowing what they are keep me focused and I make sure I find good things to watch and read to keep myself educated and motivated. I am not just doing for me, I was my parents care-giver and how much that took out of my life and my family's and I came to see that my parents' lack of self-control in diet was the cause of their need to take me away from being the parent I should have been able to be. I do not want to repeat this. It almost destroyed my marriage.
We think our health is a personal thing, but that is not true. We are interconnected. Love has to come with responsible behavior.
I'm Dutch. Cheese is my culture. It's sooo hard! Can't wait till I move out, I'll just never buy cheese anymore.
I'm Dutch too, but after about a year of being vegan, cheese lost its appeal to me.
I'd argue that most countries have a kinda nationali dish which is non-vegan. I'm German. Wurst and Schnitzel. No proplem going vegan though.
Vegans are also missing out on our wild edibles. Our ancestors enjoyed a wide variety of wild edibles. Dandelion, clover, violet, dock, plantain, just a few that will happily grow anywhere, and are far more nutritious than what we can get in our stores. We need to get this valuable information back to the mainstream, so they can get those micro-nutrients, and power packed nutrition, back in our diets. I became vegan 10 years ago , and because I have these valuable plants growing in my own back yard, I can definitely say: It's not about calories, it's about nutrient dense foods. As more people become vegans this information will be vital, for health and sustainable living. Thanks for all you do!! We love your videos!!!
this video makes me want to keep eating meat. Opiods are not an active ingredient in heroin. opiods are a class of drug, under which herion falls. Cheese is like morphine? Uh no, it tastes good. It's just that simple. He cites studies that do tests on animals... hypocritical? pokes fun at a hypothetical "fat doctor." "Meats are seasoned with plants for a reason" ... are you f'n kidding??? Flash a primitive bar graph of BMI on the screen for less than a second with no source and somehow you're making a legitimate point? Make people watch movies to understand your lifestyle choice. "Yes mum, I've decided that I'm gay. To help you understand, here's a list of documentaries you should watch." This man has a very skewed view of reality, in spite of being apparently informed in some ways
Why vegans fail? Because their diet is unnatural. No strictly vegan culture has ever lasted in history. Animal protein is part of our diet.
whatever helps you and your clogged arteries sleep at night! :)
I love how he goes around the whole vegan subject without insulting people like other youtubers'
That pic of Remy is adorable. At first, I thought I couldn't give up cheese, but I did it cold turkey and now the thought of it repels me. :)
Awesome video, Mic! We can help a portion of that 1/3 population! We veganize a common dish every week! Many people out there doing what we do and trying to make it easy and accessible. We hope anyone still lacking the motivation can feel inspired to go on what we think is the most fun food expedition they'll ever go on!
For one of my registered dietician assignments, I was making standardized recipes, and the HACCP plan is super simple with the vegan food in the recipe. There is almost no chance of a food borne illness if people eat vegan foods, and 135 degrees F is the only temperature that anybody needs to know for cooking foods. Cooking meat is complicated. I'm glad I never cooked meat.
Omg this is the best video everrrr! Your humor and chillness was awesome! More of these please!
"They tried to make me go to cheehab" doesn't have quite the same ring to it . . . . I too think the main obstacle is ignorance of the most basic vegan diet, a whole food one, and its attributes of being economical, feasible, and satisfying if one consumes sufficient calories. Thanks for posting.
Found your channel through Vegan Gains and absolutely love your videos :)
Excellent points, Mic. I could imagine insufficient calories being a problem exclusively for those who came to veganism overweight and hoping to lose kilos. Others may be surprised by the mass and volume of veggies required, but won't likely fall off the wagon due to quantity alone.
I find that enthusiasm and prior experience cooking whole foods makes veganism easy. Unpressured opportunities to try various diets (vegetarian, fruitarian, Asian Buddhist, Mediterranean, Mexican, etc) demonstrates vast possibilities.
Expecting veganism to be effortless nearly guarantees failure. One needs to be confident in the health aspects. I believe one needs to be willing to shop and cook for themselves (others, processed foods, and restaurants are unreliable).
The vegan community places too much emphasis on strict and absurd perfection. It's wonderful to raise concerns over and avoid palm oil, insect dyes, bone bleached sugar, and trace animal products, and these efforts encourage the production and availability of ethical alternatives. But, vegans should never discourage others from eliminating the most overt suffering and exploitation. We need to encourage and expand the "vegan club" (I applaud fruitarians who've generally recognized x0% fruit as fulfilling the definition).
Great video!
Earthlings just did it for me. Made me commit for life. The fact that I couldn't even watch it all just made me realize how ridiculous it was for me to ever consume that stuff again. Neal Barnard's book "Breaking the Food Seduction" is excellent and discusses the opiate effect that cheese/dairy products have on the human brain. Worth a read for anyone struggling with these issues.
I actually think many people are just hypocritical whether they eat meat or not. Most people have a tendency to think what is good or moral for them should be good for everyone. It's subjective who can say what is right or wrong unless your told by someone with videos, documentaries etc. Do what your body tells you to do. But stop pushing your agenda on others, unless they ask or are curious about it. But don't believe that you are the standard of a healthy lifestyle .
What a great point. This makes lots of sense. my hubby and I have recently transitioned and we love it but for him especially he has to make sure to eat a lot of veggies. I just found overnight veggies and I love it, another new staple. Got to keep learning eating. I can do that
Another thing I recommend for people who have time issues is rather than cooking one recipe in bulk is doing your prep work in bulk. Grill a bunch of veggies so that later on in the week you can have some with pasta, or a sandwich, or rice. That way you don't get tired of having the same meal everyday and it cuts down the daily cooking time significantly
This video is a life saver, thanks! I just recently became vegan and I'm dealing with every single one of these concerns, it's like you're reading my mind. I really do think joining some vegan communities will help with the motivation and learning new, preferably easy to prepare recipes. Not sure where you live now but if you're in the NYC area and belong to any vegan groups in the area or know any in the area I'd love to join.
Hey! can you make a video regarding macronutrient ratios? love your videos, keep up with the awesome work
you hit a lot of really good points. I was vegan for three years before I got pregnant and the only reason I quit was because my husband,family and doctor said I should stop from my son's sake. While being vegan I went from being obease and tired all the time to very active and within a normal weight range within 4 months and because I was in high school I was a junk food vegan. But even then I felt better.
Family and doctors can play a lot into your choices and it's always better to have a look at actual evidence to make choices.
I've went back to vegan about 5 months ago with my husband and son and we have no regrets. we feel better and know we're healthier all round
I will celebrate my 3 years vegan anniversary in September. Made some mistakes. But with the right information ... the doctors and channels like this, I've figured it out. Never felt better. I have to be healthy. Taking the right supplements. Project knowledge on my errands list. No problems, feeling strong, feeling awesome, actually. The yearly flew is not occurring anymore. Really a treat, living like this.
Vegan & lift weights for 32 years here. Still the same size as when I was 12 years old. I am now 54. Don't UNDER eat. And eat close to nature as possible. Cook and raw. It has worked for me my whole life.
I've been vegetarian for over 20 years of my life, which is my entire life, and for the past year I have not eaten any eggs or drank milk. As of recently, I have had no yogurt and no cheese. I can't imagine myself reverting all the way back to my primordial ways, but we will see if I revert back partially in the near future. Cheese is starting to have a funny smell if you ask me.
Thank you so much. As a teenager and into my early 20's, I was a lacto-ovo vegetarian. Eventually I declined to omnivore mostly due to convenience and family pressures. I can confirm that cheese is absolutely addictive. I've been dancing around the idea of going completely vegan for awhile. Keto eating has taught me that I can feel very satiated from avocado. I start my "cheehab" tomorrow.
Oh...and only starting tomorrow, because I already ate dinner.
I'm just popping in to say I love your videos. I really like hearing the scientific and logical side of things, you're very articulate and good at explaining things. I'm a new vegan (partially thanks to you) and it's really helpful and encouraging to have resources to educate and motivate myself and my family.
I love you for what you r doing here! So respectful, informative, passioned Helpful, and inspirational! Greetings from Germany👍😘
Ditching meat and dairy fat were enormously beneficial for me, because doing so lowered my cholesterol from 314 to 199. I then tried Veganism for 4 months, with good but not ideal results insofar that my LDL cholesterol refused to drop. My medical tests have revealed on more than one occasion that my LDL is lower, my triglycerides are lower, and my HDL is higher when I adhere to Piscetarianism by eating sardines or Alaskan salmon about twice a week. Eating fish in moderation is recommended by organizations I deem reputable such as the American Heart Association, Harvard Medical School, and Tufts School of Nutrition. These organizations acknowledge that fish have varying levels of contamination, but state that the benefits of fish still outweigh the drawbacks. I am susceptible to high cholesterol, and given how strongly implicated high cholesterol is with heart disease, stroke, and dementia, I experiment to figure out how to manage it by any dietary means necessary. Currently what seems ideal for me is to follow the How Not to Die advice of Dr. Greger plus eat fish twice a week, which is a diet that isn't strictly vegan but much more vegan-ish than the typical American diet in which about 30% of calories are from animal products. What does the vegan community say to someone like me who objectively demonstrates that eating like a vegan, although pretty darn healthy, isn't absolutely ideal, at least for a sample size of 1 person?
Thank you for sharing this info and your insight. I am one who aspires to veganism yet still struggles on occasion with giving into cheese on pizza. I also sometimes use small amounts of butter and want to break these habits because I've recently learned of the true suffering of animals used in the dairy industry 😢.
The manner in which you present the facts helps motivate me and, in particular, I like your advice to find a vegan meetup group; I plan to do so!
My vegan dishes are comprised of mostly Italian, Mexican, and Indian dishes. Other international cuisines have fewer options, but there are still quite a few dishes to choose from.
RE: Caloric Density: I am starting and my daily staples are rice and beans. Brown rice and pinto beans. I can manage to eat enough calories, that is not a problem. Protein might be a bit of a problem. I need possible 30g-50g more per day. Granted, I get the minimum requirement based on my weight, but that's at moderate activity, and not muscle building.
I like cheese. I just started so I don't know if the cravings are going to get me. The worst I might have to do is eat some low fat fish as I acclimate. It is very filling and satiating. I prefer not to eat meat and will go off it completely tho.
I was a bit nervous when I clicked on this video since I’m such a new vegan, it’s been about 1 month and 3 weeks. But I felt relieved when he was naming the reasons. I adjusted to the less calorically dense food very quickly and it’s so easy for me to resist animal products. I’m so motivated to stay vegan and I’m ready to tackle any problems so I can stick with it. The thought of eating meat again disgusts me.
I have an eye doctor friend who became vegan after I showed her the Dvd EATING for about 6 years. Then lately, she joined the Paleo diet wholeheartedly saying that being vegan did nothing to lower her cholesterol and prevent her osteoporosis. So she is on drinking bone broth and eating meat, fish and butter. I saw her numbers though. Her cholesterol went from high to very high.
We will see what happens...