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want to go vegan but health issues

2K views 20 replies 14 participants last post by  Elijah 
#1 ·
latly i have slipped from my vegetarian ways...... because i have really needed to gain weight , now im a bit healthy but not yet at my healthy weight range , my drs tell me that i should not go back to being vegetarain and im stressed trying to know what is right for me to do .......... i want to be healthy and if it is eating fish and chicken than i will , but i have always thought that i would love to try a vegan diet , now i am scared to do this because i feel alot healthy right now , does anyone have any suggestions for me would be great

thanks
 
#3 ·
i think you need to be really really really recovered from your ED before you start cutting things out of your diet again, for whatever reason.

you won't be helping animals or the planet by being veg*n, if it ends up making your ED worse, and you end up very sick, or even dead as a result.

if i was you, i'd take my time, work on getting better, maintain a health weight for a good while, get lots of councelling and beat my food demons, and then i think i'd be in a good position to try veg*nism again, with support from a nutritionist.
 
#6 ·
Honestly- all doctors will push meats on you. You need a veg*an doctor who will understand and know how to help. Eating meat just to gain weight is silly if you are against it. Eat a lot of nuts.. beans, use healthy oils when cooking. Meat isn't going to add much more than bad fats.. and why would anyone want that?
 
#8 ·
You have to do what you have to do to get better. Period.

You sound frantic and panicked about this vegan question--which tells me you are mired in your ED still and NOt ready to be messing with your mealplan.

I understand the desire to stay veg AND recover. I really, really, really do. I agonized over it for years, too. I suppose you have to look at what you want more: your life back, or more of what you've got right now.

What sort of treatment are you undertaking right now? If you are not IP, then can't you work with your nutritionist to make a veg*n meal plan that you can live with? I mean, if you are not sticking to even a veg*n mealplan, then I can can sort of see how your nut. might not be willing to fully take your imput, you know? You've got to show them that when you say you want to stay veggie, it is not an excuse to restrict or otherwise f*ck around with food.

I know I am being blunt, but I really think you are asking yourself the wrong questions at this point, you know? You have an ED. You have to commit to the recovery part, which means committing to your mealplan and the help of your doctors, even when you don't always like what they say. Getting to freely make wise choices about your food is sort of one of the bonuses of recovering (or truly working at it). Going vegan could be one of the bonuses of recovering for you-- it is for me
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lady Clare View Post

Honestly- all doctors will push meats on you. You need a veg*an doctor who will understand and know how to help. Eating meat just to gain weight is silly if you are against it. Eat a lot of nuts.. beans, use healthy oils when cooking. Meat isn't going to add much more than bad fats.. and why would anyone want that?
It's a nice idea to find a veg*n doctor... but frankly, she needs an ED doctor firstly. Tough to find one of those who is a card-carrying vegan advocate.
 
#12 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by specialK12 View Post

latly i have slipped from my vegetarian ways...... because i have really needed to gain weight , now im a bit healthy but not yet at my healthy weight range , my drs tell me that i should not go back to being vegetarain and im stressed trying to know what is right for me to do .......... i want to be healthy and if it is eating fish and chicken than i will , but i have always thought that i would love to try a vegan diet , now i am scared to do this because i feel alot healthy right now , does anyone have any suggestions for me would be great

thanks
Gaining weight shouldn'd be the reason for eating meat. And eating fish or chicken isn't healthy either. If you eat enough calories, you'll gain weight, no matter where these calories come from. Eat calorie dense food as the already mentioned nuts (eggplant).

Some ED specialists frown upon vegan patients. The average vegan diet is less calorie dense than the average omni diet. But you can make your diet as calorie dense as you like. Hopefully you'll get a nutrionalist, who know to help with this specific problem.
 
#13 ·
thanks , i think my dr is really wanting me to eat alot more protein and says its easiest from fish and meat, i dont know my mind still does play tricks on me and i never seem to feel content with my meal plans whether they are vegan or otherwise , i guess i just struggle with food and this extra weight is making me feel unhealthy even thou i am still underweight................... did u say eggplant?is this another name for nuts?
 
#14 ·
Well, I managed to recover from and ED and remained Veg (not vegan though). It can be done.. people just like to push meat on you. I find it funny that so many here are willing to push her to eat meat too... Once again.. that whole you need meat to be healthy.. even here. weird.
 
#15 ·
It's not so much that people "want" her to eat meat. It's that she shouldn't be "restricting", or fighting her doctor's recommendations. For many (not all, but many) people with ED, veg*nism is a "safe" way to continue restricting and obsessing about food.

special, as many have said already, you need to get your ED under control before you can make a rational decision about veg*nism. As you said, your mind still plays tricks on you.

and no, eggplant isn't another name for nuts. you prolly know it as aubergine.

good luck to you!

 
#18 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by WonderRandy View Post

For many (not all, but many) people with ED, veg*nism is a "safe" way to continue restricting and obsessing about food.
I won't disagree with you on this- it is definitely true, but there are still people out there with ED's who are genuine in their desire to not eat meat. I just speak from experience.. but in any case.. hope you get better! It's a long, tough road, but the other side is nice, promise.
 
#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by kale View Post

It's a nice idea to find a veg*n doctor... but frankly, she needs an ED doctor firstly. Tough to find one of those who is a card-carrying vegan advocate.
Actually, Dr. Fuhrman is a family practice doc, and a nutrition expert who promotes a plant-based diet, and he does counsel people who have ED. Unfortunately for specialk, he is in the U.S. I don't know if she would be able to find someone like that in the U.K. or not. He does phone consults but that would be pretty expensive.

His member website does have an Ask The Doctor forum though, where website members can get Dr. F. to answer their health and diet questions. It costs me $7.95 a month to be a member of the site and I really love it. I've learned an awful lot there.

Claudia
 
#21 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by VeganClaudia View Post

Actually, Dr. Fuhrman is a family practice doc, and a nutrition expert who promotes a plant-based diet, and he does counsel people who have ED. Unfortunately for specialk, he is in the U.S. I don't know if she would be able to find someone like that in the U.K. or not. He does phone consults but that would be pretty expensive.

His member website does have an Ask The Doctor forum though, where website members can get Dr. F. to answer their health and diet questions. It costs me $7.95 a month to be a member of the site and I really love it. I've learned an awful lot there.

Claudia
Dr. Fuhrman also does "Skype" phone consults. So really it would only be the average price since the call would be free. But I agree, join the forums over there and get world class medical advice from a vegan friendly M.D. for only $8 a month! Can't beat that!

Good Luck SpeacialK12!
 
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