The unhealthy vegetarian

[Autumn Appeal]

Hello. I was wondering if someone/anyone could help me out. I've only been vegetarian for 3 months now. The first month I still consumed dairy and egg. After that first month I eliminated dairy and egg. I didn't do it gradually. I just kind of quit it all together. I read labels on EVERYTHING I purchase. For a while I felt great. But these past few weeks I have been feeling off. I'm so tired. I can't exercise longer than 45 minutes. I'm dizzy. I can't seem to concentrate on anything. I'm also very irritable. I have trouble sleeping at night. And my heart races at night while I'm laying in bed trying so hard to fall asleep.

My doctor recently wrote me a prescription for iron pills. I haven't gotten it filled yet. I plan to though. My question is... why am I feeling this way? Is it the iron? Is it the sudden change in my diet? Am I missing something?

Everyone keeps telling me I NEED meat and it's driving me crazy. I feel like they're pressuring me. I don't want to give up. I want to be a vegetarian. But I also want to be healthy. And right now I don't feel healthy.

Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[animallover7249]

Can you list a typical day's meals? Not having enough iron can make you totally whipped out all day, and even dizzy, too.

[Autumn Appeal]

For breakfast I'm usually at work and only have time for a bagel. Sometimes I will eat a plain multigrain bagel (nothing on it) with a cup of coffee and soy milk. If I'm home I will make myself some oatmeal with walnuts. I've made vegan french toast and tofu scramble a few times. I love them both, but don't always have the time to make it.

For lunch I sometimes eat a sandwich loaded with veggies. Or a salad. Sometimes I just skip lunch all together.

For dinner I like to get creative. I've made tacos with black beans, corn, onion, garlic and salsa. Veggie wraps with hummus and lots of leafy greens. Orecchiette with broccoli. Vegan eggplant parmesan. Veggie burgers loaded with veggies on top.

I also snack on fruit and veggies throughout the day. Although not nearly as much as I should.

I usually drink just cranberry juice throughout the day. I try to drink as much water as I can, but don't drink as much as I should.

[raefactor]

it doesn't sound like you're getting enough calories, imo. It sounds like you're really busy, and the foods you're eating (lots of vegetables, not too much else, though it almost sounds balanced) are very low-calorie.

do you get enough good fats? do you eat nuts throughout the day? Maybe start eating some pasta, too.

start munching on more than just fruit through the day. Crackers might be your friend if you're stuck at work all day. Also look for some more calorie-dense foods. And of course, talk to your doctor.

[bluesand]

Did your Dr blood test you or just diagnose you without blood testing .....low iron can shut your whole system down .

[RoboMonkey]

If you aren't eating dairy/eggs you should probably be taking a B12 supplement.

Also, you should be eating a lot more than you were when you were an omnivore. Most vegetarian food is a lot less dense in calories.

[rabid_child]

I'm also wondering if you had blood run or if your doctor just assumed you needed iron and wrote a prescription? If that's the case, I wouldn't take the supplement until you have your blood tested. Too much iron can make you sick as well.

You really aren't eating enough, especially during the day. You could leave oatmeal packets in your desk at work and some nuts and eat that at work. You should pack a lunch the night before so you don't have to think about it in the morning. Make extra dinner and pack that for lunch the next day if you're not feeling creative. Add protein to your fruit and veggie snacks. Cranberry juice is also really high in sugars, so you may be getting blood sugar spikes/drops if that's most of what your body is getting during the day, since juice lacks the fiber fruit does for sustained energy.

[LucidAnne]

totally agree w/ all of the above!
you can cook up tofu scramble at night and just reheat in the a.m. or put in a burrito, w/ beans, veggies,whatever, to take on the run. you need some protein more consistently in the morning. Soy yogurt, peanut butter on your bagel, soy sausage?

Keep granola bars, clif bars, whatever kind yo ulike, handy.
For lunch, make sure you are loading up your salads, you can add some veggie burgs, tofu cubes, nuts,sunflower seeds, etc for more protein there. and make sure you are eating some carbs in there too!
Make extra rice, quinoa, couscous to take for lunches the next day. You can make cool or warm salads, adding veggies, dried fruits, beans, etc.

If you like the cranberry juice taste, add a little bit to selzer water, b/c like RC said, it is high in sugar.
Taking a general multivitamin probably wouldnt hurt though. but get blood tested before you overload on anything specific.

[Autumn Appeal]

Thank you all so much for your tips. I kind of had an idea that I was eating too little, but as I said I get so busy and just don't have the time. I will definitely try making lunch ahead of time. I bet that would be a big help.

My doctor did take blood twice. I just never got the iron because I honestly didn't think it was a big deal. But now I see that it is. I have been taking a multivitamin and b12 for the past couple of days. I decided to do so after reading up on it. I figured it couldn't hurt.

Thanks again for the ideas and support.

[Dirty Martini]

I assume you're not peeing your pants during the day, so you obviously make time to go to the bathroom.

Similarly, you can make time to eat.

Here's an idea - on Sunday (or whatever your day off is), make a giant pot lentils & brown rice
http://www.recipezaar.com/141796

Add cubed tofu & a ton of baby spinach leaves in the pot once it's done cooking. Drizzle about 1/4 cup of tahini & 2 Tbsp lemon juice (or more) on top. Add plenty of salt because this dish is bland (but delicious with some salt to really bring out the hearty, earthy flavor!). Stir well and separate into containers. Make enough, and you have lunch for every day of the week. Takes about an hour, and most of that hour is time you spent doing something else while the rice & lentils cooked.

[codemonkey]

I agree with everyone else. It looks like you need more calories. And DON'T SKIP MEALS!!!!! Don't ever skip lunch. And it looks like when you do eat lunch, it's tiny. You could put some hummus on that sandwich. Or you could make homemade veggie burgers on the weekends and freeze them. Or you could have some minestrone or black bean soup with your sandwich or salad for lunch. Also have a few snacks during the day. You could carry a ziplock baggy of nuts in your purse.