[eekamax]

i feel like i am veering. i am trying to stick to my diet, but it's like i almost "forget" about it sometimes. i have caught myself twice now taking a bite of something and then throwing it down, thinking ****! i don't eat that anymore! i even had a piece of cake the other day at a birthday party. i read the ingredients, the only thing it had in it that i could not have was egg whites, but i feel like i am becoming disonnected from the issues that surround being vegan.<br><br><br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br><br><br>
i am disappointed in myself. i keep telling myself that i can be "almost" vegan, but deep down i know i would not be happy with that.<br><br><br><br>
so give it to me. really let me have it. remind me why i want to do this.<br><br><br><br>
maybe i should go watch earthlings again. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[GhostUser]

You answered this for yourself - watching Earthlings, and whatever else might have helped you make the decision to go vegan. Find those reasons again. You can get through this little bump in the road! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":hug:">

 

[eekamax]

i did it for health reasons, buut then watched MYM and Earthlings. so maybe that is why i seem to be getting lax about it?? that is why i suggested watching it again. but last time i watched it i got almost irrational about it. like extremely emotional for a couple of days....<br><br><br><br>
ugh. i just need some support.

 

[Poppy]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>eekamax</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><br>
I am disappointed in myself. i keep telling myself that i can be "almost" vegan, but deep down i know i would not be happy with that.<br><br><br></div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
We don't have to "let you have it" - you're doing that yourself! Let your unhappiness be your motivation to change.<br><br><br><br>
And give yourself some time. Becoming vegan is a major life change - I know I had some of those "oh crap" moments early on, when I just simply forgot what I was doing.<br><br><br><br>
Best of Luck! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/broccoli.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":bobo:">

 

[lilac wine]

are there particular parts of MYM or earthlings that really affected you and made you feel strongly that vegan was the way to go for you? if so, you could try and carry something with you to remind you of them, for example a little picture in your wallet or something like that. when you feel a moment of "weakness", just look at it to remind yourself why you've made the choice you have.<br><br><br><br>
also, it is possible to sponsor animals at farmed animal sanctuaries. near me, there is one called peaceful prairie (<a href="http:" target="_blank">www.peacefulprairie.org)</a>. they have a lot of rescued chickens and egg laying hens, among many other animals. maybe if you sponsored an animal or even just donated a small amount of money with a specific rescued animal (for example a rescued hen or dairy calf if eggs/dairy are what you're finding hard), then you could think about your personal committment to that individual animal to honor the things they have survived and it might help you not feel tempted to do things that would harm their brethren. a personal connection/commitment might help.<br><br><br><br>
d'oh. i'm just seeing it now, but i really like what poppy said about letting your unhappiness be your motivation to change. i agree. it seems you are fully ready to do this. if there are some bumps in the road, just keep going and have confidence that you can and _will_ make it happen because you've made the decision.

 

[Moechalatte]

Read some good books .... read some good websites .... gain a lot more information about going vegan other than the health benefits of it ....<br><br><br><br>
I went vegan five years ago for mostly health reasons. It lasted a couple years actually, but I went back to omni for a month or so... I only went back to vegetarian, and then recently vegan, because of all the new knowledge I've gained about the animal rights, environmental, social, etc. reasons behind going vegan.<br><br><br><br>
Maybe your health isn't enough of a reason to stick to veganism? I know it wasn't enough for me. I think some more knowledge about the other issues would really help out a lot to keep you motivated. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> Every time I consider grabbing a quick piece of cheese or letting a non-vegan ingredient slip into my meal, I think about all the horrible things that had to happen to get that food to my plate. It's worked every time so far....<br><br><br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> Good luck!

 

[Moechalatte]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>eekamax</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
............. but last time i watched it i got almost irrational about it. like extremely emotional for a couple of days....</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
It's been my experience that being vegan for purely emotional reasons, or letting your emotions control your reasoning, just doesn't work out very well in the long run. If I get too emotional about it, I start to feel irrational about it, like you said, and I start to doubt my intentions/actions - like if I would just stop being emotional and think rationally, I wouldn't be vegan anymore. It's not so fun to let emotions guide your decisions so much that you start to wonder why you're making the decisions you are.... With some really good facts and info. to back up veganism, you can dispute any anti-vegan point and feel much better about sticking to your diet <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[karenlovessnow]

No problem. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/kick.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":junk:"> Oops. Missed. Sorry. J/K!!! I couldn't help myself.<br><br><br><br>
Really, just hang in there. I know it can be discouraging. Just do the best you can. It's not always easy to make a lifestyle change, especially when it involves something as basic as eating. Good luck! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[MrFalafel]

Veganism is a journey, not a destination. You should take it day by day. If today you were only 95% vegan, hopefully tomorrow you can be 98% vegan. And so on.

 

[meatless]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Moechalatte</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
It's been my experience that being vegan for purely emotional reasons, or letting your emotions control your reasoning, just doesn't work out very well in the long run.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br><br><br>
Well, regardless I think it's really important to stay connected emotionally with why you're vegan. I think sometimes people lose track of that, and if animals were why they went vegan in the first place I'd guess it results in becoming more lax in what one is consuming. I'm vegan for about a zillion different reasons, but for the most part it's the animals who keep me on the straight and narrow.<br><br><br><br>
Check out this thread:<br><br><br><br><a href="http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=56635" target="_blank">http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/s...ad.php?t=56635</a><br><br><br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[Tom]

Eekamax, you don't need to be flogged- you need to be patient with yourself.<br><br><br><br>
I've seen people in real life make excuses to not attempt veg*nism. As long as you don't do that- in other words, as long as you don't give up- you'll be fine.<br><br><br><br>
(And yes- you DEFINITELY rock.)

 

[ommmmaggie]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Tom</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Eekamax, you don't need to be flogged- you need to be patient with yourself.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
I second that!!! It really is a day-by-day thing. Give yourself some breathing room, and read up as much as you can about the other issues surrounding the vegan ethic.<br><br><br><br>
I probably sound like a broken record, but I've posted numerous times about how powerful "The Vegan Sourcebook" was for me. The author (Joanne Stepaniak) really takes you on a thorough journey through the many aspects of the vegan ethic. Do yourself a favor and read it! Another book I've heard great things about (haven't read it yet) is "Vegan: The New Ethics of Eating" by Erik Marcus. "Diet For a New World" by John Robbins is another excellent resource.<br><br><br><br>
You can do this!!! Be kind and patient with yourself, and get more informed. You'll thank yourself!<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/broccoli.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":bobo:">

 

[cillianmurphy00]

I used to do that too when i was new to being a vegitarian and vegan like when i was at first a vegetarian i sometimes just started eating meat and then im like oh crap what am i doing.Also when i just became a vegan i had been eating this bread and then i realized it had milk ingredients in it<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/blush.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[eekamax]

the meat thing is not an issue. even dairy isn't. it seems to be eggs that i have a problem "remembering" that i don't eat. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/laugh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":lol:"> like i'll take a big bite of veggie fried rice and then be like WTF am i doing!?!?!<br><br><br><br>
thanks for the support. i started out reading every book, looking up every web site, constantly talking/thinking/researching about it. i have been pre-occupied with other stuff lately so all that has taken a back seat. i just need to re-focus.<br><br><br><br>
thanks for all the support, guys. i really appreciate it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[natural_1]

Take it easy on yourself. Old habits are hard to break. It takes time for your new way of eating to come naturally to you. I found myself reaching for a few foods out of habit and then quickly caught myself.<br><br><br><br>
As far as your reasons and needing reminding of it...I had a situation during my first month of going vegan. All I thought of was a Wendy's burger. It was on my mind 24/7. One day after work, I knew where I was headed so I called my daughter (also vegan) for support. She asked me why I went vegan in the first place. After telling her my reasons, I no longer wanted to go through the Wendy's drive-thru. It was still on my mind off and on over those next weeks but then it went away.<br><br><br><br>
If being vegan is truly what you want, then stick with it. Find your backup support system, and keep reminding yourself about why you made this choice in the first place.

 

[ommmmaggie]

Great advice, Natural 1! I'll have to figure out who my vegan support system is...I actually don't know any other vegans personally. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/help.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":help:">

 

[natural_1]

we're here for you, Maggie.

 

[chiaraluna]

I had exactly the same sort of experience about two years after becoming vegan... I ended up taking almost a year off to be lacto-ovo, and I'll tell you right now that it was definitely not worth it. I felt guilty the entire time, and now that I'm back I doubt I'll be veering away again.<br><br><br><br>
Just look again at your reasons, and if the only way you can satisfy some urges and get them out of your system is to take a week or two off, do it. Do what you think will work for you.