Hi veggieboards,
I have been vegetarian and vegan int eh past but felt weak. now I'm vegetarian most of the times but there's time when I feel tired and weak and short of money etc. am recoveing from long term health problems with i don't necessarily want to go into but involved medications that i'm now off . but still there are side effects. I get v tired and feel soemtimes I have to take what im offered or buy what is cheap or put my health first before thie idea of being vegetarian 100% . but I like it here I'm v into progressing with sustainability generally getting into recycing and eco products. don't drive haven't added to populations , haven't flown for years etc. walk alot. use public transport. and itno wholefoods too. nutrition etc. like to hear comments althgouth this is likely to be a slow process 4 me. also have v stressful family with alcoholic people that lean on me etc. and difficult friendships that i met in recovery processes so can't afford to be short of energy or unable to function mentally and physically
thanks for listneing. (((((((((((((((lol))))))))))))))) :rolleyes: :rainbow: :rolleyes: :rainbow: :rolleyes: :rainbow:

There's more than one legitimate route to vegetarianism. If you feel that right now you can't be fully vegetarian -- that's your decision and your right. On the other hand, if you feel your tiredness and weakness comes from your diet, maybe we can suggest foods that will help, and still be vegetarian. :)

I do have one request. The pink type is difficult to read on the white background, as there's not enough contrast. Do you think you could use black, or at least a darker color? :)

Its up to you how you become a vegetarian - for some people, they decide, and that's it, for life. For others, its a back and forth struggle. Do what is best for you, but don't think that vegetarianism means lower energy - with a well balanced diet, I actually find myself MORE energetic than when I used to eat meat. Its wonderful that you are trying vegetarianism again, and trying to do your best for the environment! I am also a vegetarian because of my concerns for the environment, so I know where you are coming from. I hope that your stressful family life will soon allow you time enough that you can take care of yourself as well as you take care of others.

Just one last thing - as a courtesy to other vegetarians - try not to call yourself a vegetarian until you are prepared to really be one, because if you eat fish or chicken, and say you are vegetarian, it can confusion in some meat eaters into thinking that all vegetarians do eat meat occasionally. (this phenomenon explains why my sister-in-law was served a "completely vegetarian" plate with a chicken breast on it the other day, hehe. ;-) ) Of course I'm sure you've have experiences like that before since you were previously vegan, just mentioning it for the newbies ;-)

That said, welcome and good luck!

There are cheap vegetarian items out there eggs, milk, beans, nuts, tofu, peanut butter, rice, pasta, fruits, vegetables, cereal, bread.

:hug: We all strive for 100%, but very very few of us ever make it. For any given person, they or someone else could think of more things they could do in order to be less cruel to the Earth. Factors such as money, availability of resources, and every day things like time and relationships limit us. I am so glad to hear that you are doing the best you can. I am also glad to hear that you realize there is so much more that could be done. The thing is, you want to do the best you can without stressing yourself out and exasperating yourself. Very determined people have given up completely because they've burnt themselves out. So, realize that you really are doing the best you can right now and be proud of yourself. If your circumstances change, you might be able to do more, but right now you are doing everything you can. I am proud of you!

You said you were feeling weak when you ate totally vegetarian. It sounds like your money could be a limiting factor here. (That is fine.) If you'd like to share with us what you eat when you try to eat totally vegetarian, perhaps we could make some suggestions which would be both nutritious and very affordable.

Thanks,

Froggy

you may never be vegetarian, and that's ok. it doesn't mean that you're any less compassionate, thoughtful, or anything else. you have to do what is best for you first, and this is also practicing nonviolence (nonviolence toward yourself).

good luck with everything.

threadstarter do you know what a typical day might be like of something you might eat in a day? Perhaps some of us board members could try and give some suggestions to your diet with out changing it a whole lot.

If you can't do 100% (and who can?!), shoot for 95%. It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

Are you taking supplements for B12? That a must for vegetarians. You definetely don't want to be tired all the time or low on energy, so take care in what you eat. Spend some time reading the info on veganhealth.org or other health information sites.

I just was looking at my vector energy bar and it had glycogen. Why are there so many products with glycogen in it? It was one of the foods I bought a while ago that was sitting around my house.

I'm 53 yo and was brought up in a meat eatting family ,and am native american....these two things alone tought me I had to learn how to can and dry food.
but anyone can tell you that when you first start something it is exspendcive.jars canners,dryers vacum sealer.....ect ect.= alot of cash
As has my going vegan.
suddenly I've had to buy new and differant things.more beans more and differant flours,tofu(yuck stage with tofu still...lol) spices,oh and one of the biggest cash busters has been condiments have to be vegan .My gummi bears are gone.Vegan candy in its place.
I've started collecting all the things i'll need to do indoor gardening year around.It well get cheaper in the long run.And I'll be healthy,and so well the animals.good luck to you.

Wow. I'm impressed. I've been vegetarian 4 years now and I don't have canners, sealers and the like. But I suppose with an indoor garden, one has to do something with all that food that needs harvesting. :yes:

Tofu... yea.... that one is a constant ick stage for a lot of people so you're not alone. :) If you can get silken tofu in your area, then use it to make salad dressings, mayo, things like that (vegan mayo is quite expensive but home-made mayo is quite cheap). If you eat ketchup, I think Heinz brand is vegan and mustard.... I think pretty much all mustard is vegan but I don't eat mustard so I'm not completely sure about that. I'm not sure what other condiments you use but I'm sure if you posted them, someone could tell you about vegan options that won't bust the wallet.

For the vegan candy... there are lots of mainstream candies that are actually vegan. Chick-O-Sticks, twizzlers, sour patch kids, sweedish fish and warheads just to name a few. Even Lindt Chocolate 70% dark is vegan. PETA has a list of accidentally vegan candies, but I can't find it right now in my bookmarks (I'm pretty sure someone else has that link and will be happy to post it for you).

To the OP: just do what you can. If you're feeling weak on a vegetarian diet, then post what you eat in a day and maybe we can help.

thanx everyone for the replies and support. also I admire the way you allowed some people to challeng you on this section, am pleased to see such open discussion ! no I'm not going to class myuself as vegetarian if I@m not , there wouldn't be much point !!! no I think I'll see this as an opportunity to put a diary in her of how I'm getting on thanks. not sure I have a typical days eating actually, althoguh I have to have wholefoods most of the time again for the energy content. wholegrains esp oats seems to have a very good effect. what I meant was that I have vegetarian things most of the time . times of weakness would be especially around the monthly dooberry which I've posted about on another section. so I guess Im looking at iron absorption there for one thing. Also I reckon I get short of iodine and b vitamings too. Yes I knowthat you can get iron from spinach. I think it might have to do with I've heard that if you are brought up on meat then maybe your body's abiolity to absorb things form vegetalbes is poorer than someone brought up veggie. well I was brought up on animal products 3 times a day !!!
but now thought I don't think that my body would liike that at all, so theere is hopefully a gradual process going on. I certainlyh would not fancy having fish or meat every day. the body I think is like a planet in itself and hopefully it's guiding me with it's own messages. like when you get an urge to detox ? don't know if anyone gets that, cravings for fruit smoothies and fasting etc ?
recently to I@m finding that I have to have free range eggs and natural washing up liquid , it' just happened that way and am getting alot of tofu as well, especailly the smoked one. and if I do have meat it's usually salmon or tuna too. and I'm now recycling rubbish, and working in sustainablityt. and support charities to do with abused children.
somsetimes I will cook someone a vegetarian meal too, or a wholefood one at the very least, without them knowing that ther'es any message in it. I worry thay will complain about the brown or wild rice but they never do ! I think if I do succedd in becoming vegetairan probably I will not even announce it but would just say that something doesn't agree with me at the moemnt. Becausie already I have enought stick about not wanting alcohol usually, yhou know, wpeople say 'oh go on', whats it got to do with them !!!
I don't remember finding it difficult to choose vegetarian options in restaurants, but it was more dififcult roudn peoples houses. especailly if it was an unplanned meal isntit. oh and I smoke about 10 a day too !!! so will let you know how I get on with that as well, but I can't usuallyu force things to go , maybe because I can't tolerate alcohol, that I feel I need to enjoy something socially.
anyway this will be good I will post up here if there are any improvements and look forward toe reading more in theis section especailly about the other newbies progress too,
(((((((((((((lolhugz)))))))))))))

:wall: :juggle: :dizzy: :hamster: :sunny: :baby:

A friend of mine had health concerns when she wanted to go vegetarian, so once a week she would have meat because for her that worked best. That went on for about three years, and when she tried to go without it, everything was fine. I think her problem was finding vegetarian meals that weren't spaghetti. :)

My point being, I didn't look down on her in the least because she wasn't able or willing to give up that meat once a week. If she were still eating it, I wouldn't care. Her health came first. Likewise, your health is a million times more important than how strict a vegetarian you are. It looks like your body is coping with quite a bit of change. Take your time trying to balance it all out. :)

Eating less meat is better than not. You're trying your best to do something good, and I admire you!

Everyone does things a different way. What's important is that you're trying. :)

And yeah, impromptu meals at friends' can be hard. I was at a friend's house for dinner a few days ago and his mom cooked for us. Corn-on-the-cob, potatoes, and fried chicken. I explained why I only ate the vegetables (and felt bad), then had some tofu when I got home. I think it's kind of a universal veg*n experience.

thanks, bstutzma, CarrotCake, froggythefrog, zoebird, thatoneguy, jackierawlings, 4EverGrounded, Mskedi, Crystalteacup, Kate,
yeah I think the best thing to do on her is just tell it like it is reallly, thanks for the support and acceptance. I stumbled on this site while researching sustainablity ! that's what I was concentrating on but they say that meat is not green. So I willl be looking at that. Also it's good to look for an enjoyable way of doing thing isnt it. eg it took years for me to enjoy wholefoods if you know what I mean but now I would rarely like a junk thing, also if I'm enjoying what Im doing then its easier to advertise it to other people , or without them even knowing about it sometimes. Actually I don't cook much atm because of the dieting not v interested in it but used to be quite creative with it and people would ask me to do 'something alternative' like I would at the time. eg wholewheat spaghetti with peanut butter sauce !
I think for now I need to look at ways to put in more greens, also they have folic acid which could be good too. Thing is you know when you decide something like that, well I'll go to extremes sometimes and have greens evey day , that's not the way I guess, because then you'd get bored.
what I have varies alot but today I think it will be oat cerial, brown rice vegetables and nutburgers, and then chips on the way home because I get back so late and u don't want protein late at night !
Anyway will let you know how it goes, thanks again ((((((((lolol)))))))))):sunny: :p :sunny: :p :sunny: :p

I had the same trouble. When i first started to go veggie.I was feeling sick and stuff and it took me acouple of times to get the hang of it. IT is getting better for me and it will for you too. Im almost 100 percent veggie. IM about 98percent now
Good luck

hey at least you tried it right? It takes different amounts of time for different people. It took me about a year and a few months to go vegan. It's hard but if you're really commited it becomes easier and easier as you go. Just take it in little steps. Ex: Semi vegitarian, lacto-ovo vegitarian, lacto vegitarian, etc. I'm sure you can do it I mean all of us did. Just takes a little patience.