The "Change" to Vegetarianism

About two weeks ago my husband and I decided to become vegetarians.  But the other day he complained that since we switched our diets he hasn't felt good, and the truth is that I haven't felt that good either.  My stomach feels bloated and I have gas everyday!
All of you who used to be meat eaters, how was the change for you?  Did it take a long time??  Do you just have to get used to it?  We are careful to get enough protien and all that other stuff, I just dont want to give up.

Hi...I just became a vegetarian about a week ago too.  I didn't feel good for a few days, but those were the days I ate mostly vegetables.  On the days that I have mixed it up a bit I have felt better.  Sometimes I feel like I'm missing something, sort of empty, but I think I just need to pick some other foods.  What have you been eating?

I have been thinking a lot about this lately. I just recently made the switch from veggie to vegan. I felt amazing the first couple of days but then I got a cold (lack of food I think). I say soldier on! Are you getting enough iron/protein/water/calcium...what have you been eating?

we are eating oatmeal or ceral or bagels for breakfast, lots of cherries and fresh fruits, lots of salads, and then usually pasta or beans for dinner.  Not too much cheese, but we are using soy milk and I tried tofu too.  I think we are definately not getting enough water.  Also, he likes to eat lots of sweets.  But I have been watching our protien, two days I was under but the rest I was OK, and he has been really good with protien.

Hi All, I'll put my two cents in . . . :-)

I just switched a few weeks ago, and feel better overall.  I'm eating fewer calories because I fill up faster too. 

One thing I have noticed, drinking 100+ oz of H20 a day and eating lots more fiber than I used to w/vegetarianism, is that (not to be gross) I have had loose bowel movements since starting. I also have had some of the bloating and what seems to be acid reflux.  That said, I bought some zantac and that helps.  The tummy stuff also might be all that extra fiber (my intake has doubled since May 16). 

Do you eat cottage cheese, yogurt, eggs or veggie burgers?  The first three might be good sources of protein and less rough on the stomach than beans.  Soy and soy milk can cause some discomfort, especially if you aren't used to them and start eating a bunch.  Are you getting enough calories? 

I dont eat eggs or yogurt, but we do eat cottage cheese and veggie burgers.  One night I took a gas reliever pill and I felt better for the rest of the night, but the next day I was right back to being bloated.  I get enough calories, probably not enough water...
What do you all think though, then it will just take a while to get used to it, and in the mean time just take some gas reliever pills everyday?  I know i need more variety in my diet cause it has been pretty similar every day.  I have doubled my fiber intake too, but I'm also putting extra fiber in things (by fibersure).  I dont know what helps but I dont want to go back to eating meat... THIS IS MUCH MORE UNHEALTHY and I know it.  I just want to feel good and my husband to feel good too.

How bout getting in some dark veggies like spinach or kale? They are rich in nutrients and it sounds like you are eating a ton of grains. Also maybe take an iron supplement. They find more than protein, and calcium , veggies lack iron. (We've been shown to have more good protein and much higher calcium actually :) ).


Good luck! I hope it works for you! Remember your body may just need to get used to it!


I would say maybe keep at it for a bit longer but if the gas doesnt go away, you may be sensitive to a food you find you are eating more of.

Thank you all for the input, it helps because change gets frustrating sometimes.  But I don't want to go back to the old way either (eating meat!)
I am eating tons of veggies and fruits today, my body will get used to it I'm sure.

NewVeggie. I think with any change your body will need time to get used to it. I just became vegan and Im not sure why but I got sick. I am starting to feel better but I hope its not my body reacting negatively to the change.

The change was a gradual one for me from meat eater to vegetarian. I mean one day I did decide that I would not eat meat but I slipped every now and again, and I ate fish for awhile. Once I felt I had a handle on it I took out fish, I had a can of tuna .... a couple months back and I thought I would throw up, I felt horrible! Then I slowly started cutting out dairy and eggs, but Im sure my body is still a little curious and wondering where those foods went.

I would say just give it some time and see how you feel. I have a feeling it is a combination of your new eating plan and stress. Relax, sit back and enjoy those fruits and veggies :)

I think you are adjusting to the higher fiber content.  Looking at what you are eating, there are a lot of foods that will tend to cause bloating (like beans) and fiber in general will cause bloating.  I think kpearson mentioned the change in "output". but on the bright side, I have never known a constapated vegetarian.  your body will just take some time to adjust.  Oh, and STILL for me, some soy replacement products cause bloating or gas.  And I have been a vegetarian since 1984.

Like everyone else has said, I think the change is pretty normal. I never got sick from going veg (not until a year into it). I would make sure you're getting enough nutritionally-- take a multi-vitamin or something.

Best of luck!

fact: vegans and vegetarians are just naturally gassy...you will soon get used to it. it is proven.... vegan and vegetarian gas and bowels are way more pleasant to pass than meat eaters (this is also true for the smell) i know...you probably didnt want to know that but its true....

another thing....ive heard this from many people....and i expereiced it myself...the first month or so of going vegetarian (or vegan) your body kinda flushes all the meat (or dairy) out of your system.  meat especially is harder to get out of your system...so it should explain the not feeling so hot thing at first. if you continue to feel crappy after making the switch...check to see youre taking the right amount of vitamins and are eating enough protien.

stay away from too much junk...it'll just make you sick. just because its vegan or vegetarian doesn't necessarily mean its good for you.

-hydrogenated oils

-high fructose corn syrup

those are big ones...although i am guilty of indulging in these myself at times, you need to be careful this isnt in everything you eat.

that's all i can think of for now.

good luck!!!!

ALSO!

dont give up!!!!!! you're doing an awesome thing for your health, the animals and the environment!

go to   www.veganoutreach.org  and sign up for the free starter kit.  you'll get recepies and great information :)

kpearson - congrats!!! dont give up!

I have been a vegetarian all my life and I am a 56 yr old hag!  If you increase vegetables and fiber too quickly and not used to the fiber you will have G I uspset... gas...bloat etc.  Make your protein low fiber foods such as tofu...eggs...cheese... ricotta cheese.....cottage cheese.  The average american eats about  11-14g fiber.  gradually increase your fiber,giving your self time to adjust to the increase of fiber.  aim for 25-35g fiber/day.  good luck

Love, karen

xpreciousroyx -- Thanx! I feel awesome! I have no plans to give up now :) Turning vegan has been an awesome change for me. To revise my posts I was sick because my body was not getting enough nutrients not my silly assumption of "dairy or egg" it could care less about that. It just wanted food and now, that I have been feeding it the right amount, it is better and happy!!!


I am happy healthy vegan :)

karenie - haha you are hardly an old hag, but that was funny, it was something my Mother would have said, I like that:)

I cut meat out of my diet entirely about a month ago.  Before that I slowly cut meat out for about 9 months.  Saying that I still eat seafood, but consider myself vegetarian.  I found things sometimes got tricky because I'd feel a complete lack of energy and bloated and yucky.  Here are some changes I made that helped me.

1 - Sometimes raw veggies (like salads) cause more bloating than cooked veggies.

2 - Dried beans have more iron and can be cooked without salt/sodium (water retention, etc).  So along with getting energy from the iron, you're not getting too much sodium. 

3 - Eat/drink vitamin fortified foods, especially B12, Magnesium and iron.

4 - Watch the sodium intake.  With soysauce for stirfry and lots of processed vegetarian options out there, sodium is as much a concern if not more.  I switched to a No-Salt potassium based salt to help put some balance in my diet.

Hope that helps! 

It does help, I have been eating A LOT of processed foods.  But I just wanted to let everyone know... I have been feeling better.  There are days that are worse than others, like lots of bloating.  Also some days I have to go to the bathroom (by this i mean bowel movement) like 6 times a day! I dont know what would cause that?

I have tried drinking more water, but I am still having trouble even getting in 60 or 70 oz a day.

My husband has not been able to stand not eating meat, so he's still eating meat.  I haven't had any for at least 3 weeks.  I wonder if cuting off meat cold turkey instead of weaning myself off of it caused some of these problems?

Warning: Gross but useful post.

Okay I have a close friend who is a fecieologist - yes that is real - and yes that is someone who analyzes people's poop, and colons... I did warn you.

I've been raised veggie, so I'm not a good example, but when my partner who was raised on a diet of meat & potaotes and lots and lots of packaged frozen foods started eating lots more veggie meals, all the symptoms that you described happened. He didn't feel well, upset stomach, bloating, gas, frequent trips to the bathroom for number 2, runny bathroom movements..... he was not a happy camper.

Here's the explanation we've gotten from my friend and confirmed by our local GP.

If you eat a lot of packaged foods and meats consider how your digestive track is working.... meat takes on average 19 days to digetst. It slowly sits in your colon... and for all essential purposes rots (it's supposed to), as it decomposes (helped out by the bacteria in your colon) the nutrients are extracted and sent into your blood stream and the rest needs to be broken down and sent ... well... out.... Meat takes a long time to break down.

Now consider veggies.... veggies take a lot less time to break down, and they also contain a lot more gas....

Soooo when the average North American meat / processes / packaged food eater (processed and packaged foods have a lot of stuff in them to make sure they last longer i.e. don't break down easy) starts eating a lot of fresh veggies.... well... there's all this meat sitting in the colon.... and the veggies start breaking down faster and before the meat but they are not first in line... this sends the gas back into the stomach creating bloating....

Also, your colong isn't used to working at this pace.... it may think there is something wrong and try to compesate by flushing it (frequent and runny movements)

The good news is this does go away... give it at least a full month to work itself out in the begining stages... three months to really be clear.

The amount of bread eaten can also act as an absorber for the veggies as well so you need to figure out how much fiber your body needs... and what constipates you.

Also, upping your water, while overall a good thing.... if done suddenly and in large quantities can act as a flush for your system and release a lot of toxins that have just been sitting there as the body was not properly hydrated.... my friend suggests adding leamon or lime to the water, a higher acidity level helps kill a lot of these bacteria.... this is another reason a lot of people don't feel as well when they make the shift.

Good luck.

I became a vegatarian a year ago and went through the same symptoms and then some.  Here's some food for thought:  What's in meat?  I mean, think about the chemicals used to preserve it and the chemicals used in the foods fed to the animals.  They're chemicals...  When the human body is used to those chemicals, it gets used to them being there.  You become a vegatarian and it's like going through withdrawls because all of a sudden those chemicals that you've consumed for years are now gone.  It's similar to quiting any other chemical substance.  Keep it up and give it another couple of weeks.