Welcome to the Group

Welcome! We would love get to know you, so please tell us a little bit about yourself. You can choose any format you'd like, but most of us here share some or all of the following details:

1. History with veganism/vegetarianism:
2. History with Calorie Count:
3. Reason for joining this group:
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:

And now just go ahead and make that first post!

Hi everyone. I'm Carol and I'm 52 years old.  My goal is to eat vegetarian as my blood tests (Cholesteral, Triglicerides and C-Reactive Protein) have all come back slightly elevated.  Added to that, since I have cut out all animal products except fish, my sinuses and lungs are much clearer.  I have a lot to learn about this lifestyle, but I am so far enjoying it and it is actually realitively easy with some planning.  I live with my husband (51), my son (15) and my mom (91) who will eat the vegetarian dishes I prepare, but also are omnivores.  I would love to become a vegan, but I love sushi too much...but who knows where the journey will take me?  Looking forward to learning a lot on this site.

Hi guys- I'm Allison...36, from Long Beach, CA...I have been a veggie for about as long as I can remember and vegan on and off, sadly it usually has to do with whatever relationship I am in. I will say, when I do eat eggs or dairy, I only use it from chickens, cows or goats I know personally...

I joined CC to count calories because losing the weight from my daughter's birth hasn't been the same as when her brother was born 7 years ago- surprise surprise.

I joined this group because I feel very passionately about living cruelty free and I am hoping that I can share and learn along with others who, while they may not do it for the same reasons, are at least committed to (at times) a very challenging life style.

Myself- I am single mama to two awesome kiddos. We love art and yoga and music and reading and animals and nature and on and on and on...

Anyway, I think I have some pretty tasty recipes that I will try to get posted in the recipe section- good food goes far in contributing to a good life- yes?

Hello Everyone!

I'm 31 y/o and live in Ontario, Canada with my husband and two boys 9 and 17 months. I have my own business doing massage and esthetics and I am studying to become a Homeopathic Doctor. I have been a veggie for 16 years and live in a mixed marriage. LOL Meaning my husband and one older son eat meat on occaison (they eat mostly veggie) but my youngest and myself never do. I joined CC a little less than a week ago. I have joined this group for support in all areas of my life from those who share similar lifestyle values.

Good luck to all of you! I look forward to getting to know you!

Hi! I'm 25 years old and currently live in Boston. I have been vegetarian for about 10 years and vegan since last June. I call myself "strict vegetarian" because I am dietary vegan, but I am not 100% confident that all of my cosmetics, clothing, etc are vegan, and I want to avoid being called out on it. I just joined Calorie Count last week because it seems to have more specific food choices than the site I was using previously. I am pretty excited about this group and about the Vegetarian forum, because (from what I can tell so far) they seem to be positive, supportive places. I have found that some veg*n discussion boards are full of people attacking other people for not being "true veg*ns", etc etc. I don't know any vegans in real life, and I only know two vegetarians. Boston is a pretty veg-friendly place to be, and if I weren't so busy with work, school, life, I would like to participate in some of the veg organizations here. Maybe someday :)

I'm 34 years old and have been vegan for 18 years. I'm a self-employed project manager, working with artists, copywriters, and printers to help small businesses with their marketing.

I live in the Seattle area, no kids. I'm dating a police officer/pilot who has been a great motivator and encouragement to me to stay active and healthy. We are both involved in snowboarding, running, rock-climbing, salsa dancing (actually, that's just me), and mixed martial arts.

I joined CC to help me make sure I'm getting enough calories, protein, etc. I've done a good job over the years eating right and staying healthy, but have been sick with one thing after another for the past several months and wanted to make sure it wasn't nutritional, so joined CC.

I was diagnosed last week with allergies to gluten, chocolate, malt, oat, orange, peanut, soy, and yeast, so that answered the question of why my immune system wasn't working correctly.

I'm doing ok finding things to eat, but I'm having trouble getting enough protein in my diet now. I joined this group hoping that someone else might be like me and have some ideas or experience to share that could help.

And anyone who read this all the way to the end gets automatic super-vegan points from me!

Hello, I've dabbled in vegetarianism in the past, but after reading the hilarious book Skinny Bitch I've gone vegan. I'm loving the food, and joined calorie count when I found it in a search about the caloric content of avocado. I was wondering if maybe I was enjoying the food a little too much, e.g. the fattening things like avocado and tahini spread and Veganaise. 

So far I love this calorie count website. What a great way to track calories, exercise, weight etc.  I'm at 147, but with my natural tall, small-boned athletic build I've always been at my healthiest around the 130 lb. mark so that's my goal.  I was on Jenny for a while but, just as with Atkins, it only worked in the honeymoon phase.

I'm interested in fast, simple vegan recipes. Right now I'm just making do with whatever i can throw into the stir fry, or into a pita pocket, plus soup, salad, fruit and soy milk with cereal.

Who else is in this group?

Cheers

Mar

1. History with veganism/vegetarianism:
i became a vegetarian in the forth grade, so i havent eaten meat in about 10 years. this year i decided to become a vegan, after hearing a young man talk, about his struggle with animal cruelty, he was imprisoned for 6 years in a fed real penitentiary for freeing minks. for every hour he was impressionded 16 minks lives were saved. you can hold a sign out side of a factory all day in night but that won't change anything., i was really inspired by his non violent direct action.i wish i could have more of an impact. i was at the grocery store with my boyfriend and he wanted to get chocolate milk, and i said i wouldn't be apart of cows suffering, and then we walked by the meat section and he said " there are cows that really suffered" and i just broke down in tears. he didn't think about what he said. but theres nothing i can do, and all those helpless animals are dying, for what? so people can get fat and feel happy? it's so disgusting.

2. History with Calorie Count:

i joined today. i am not fat, i have just put on 30 pounds since i started college. because i don't pay attention to what i eat. i want to eat healthier.

3. Reason for joining this group:

i don;t view vegetarianism as a way to lose weight. i think books like skinny bitch have the wrong idea. it's kind of insulting. being vegan is so much more than weight loss, it's anti the cruelty of hen chickens, anti the treatment of cows. slaughter and torture is disgusting!

4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:

i'm an undergrad at the university of new mexico. i have a pet bunny. i'm into politics, native american studdies, and animal rights.

hey, I am vanessa,  I have been vegetarian for 15 years (now half my life) and vegan (again for keeps this time) for a year.  I have heard that only about 3% of vegans are overweight.  This makes me feel sometimes like I must not be doing it right... but then again, I am an awesome cook : )

Hi all...my name is Krystal & I'm 21yrs old. I've made the decision to become a vegetarian when I discovered all I wanted to do was eat, eat, & eat. In only two weeks I have gained 30lbs. I've also cut out sugars, best I can. I hope that by eliminating meat I can lose weight & feel good about myself when I look in the mirror.

Currently I'm eating foods frm Lean Cusine & WW but my favorite foods are fruits & vegetables.

I have a detailed profile so I encourage you to visit it if you're interested in supporting me in my weight loss & also for me to support you.

I'm only a new vegetarian so I hope I can also learn new recepies & tips on how to still have a healthy lifestyle!

Krystal-

Welcome here.

I hope it's a typo when you said you gained 30 lbs in two weeks. If that's true, you really should see a doctor right away. Seriously.

Either way, becoming vegetarian is a great decision!

it's not a typo. and my doctors knew right away. I was on Zyprexa, an anti-depressant & the doctors said it was normal to gain the weight, although I immediatey stopped taking the meds due to the weight gain.

Ok. I don't know you, but I couldn't help but worry!

Hi, fellow vegetarians!

I've been a vegetarian since 1980 and I'm 53 now. The reason I haven't gone vegan is that I'm probably addicted to dairy, especially cheese and ice cream, but it may be time to let that go.

I'm on my way to losing 15 pounds. I've been a member of CC for only 5 days and this is my 4th group - probably I'll stop here for a while.

Check out my profile for more history if you're interested, but in a nutshell, I have 2 grown sons, am married, have 2 dogs, work as a counselor in private practice and in a homeless shelter, been doing yoga since I was 15, taught yoga for many years, but I only teach a few techniques now, mostly to my clients.

My husband (who is thinner than me) has pretty much become a vegan for health reasons, and I need to be able to make meals we both would like. But they must be easy to make because I'm not that into cooking!

Thanks for creating this group, changedform.

metamorph7-

I'm the kind of cook that can't even get toast right, so I'll try to pull together some of the things that have worked for me and share them with you. 

Hi everyone! I have been a vegan for almost a year, and was a vegetarian for three years before that. I have been on Calorie Count for about the same amount of time... and it has been very useful when it comes to losing weight and counting calories. I joined this group because I LOVE being vegan, and want to talk to other vegans about vegan-related issues. For example: I need to find some really good vegan-friendly hair care products at reasonable prices :) any advice?

I am 22 and I just graduated from The Art Institute of Portland in December with a Bachelors of Science in Media Arts and Animation.  I moved to Chicago two weeks after (we had to get out of there quickly!), and am currently looking for jobs and updating my portfolio.  My soon-to-be Husband's name is Olumide; he is a full on carnivore, but supports me and my life style choice. We have two kitties, one is a little obese (12 pounds) and the other is a skinny little twig.  I love Animated films, reggae music, and diversity. I also am unfortunate enough to have en eating disorder... but talking about it openly in groups like this, and caring about my food choices makes it a lot easier to deal with :) You can find me all over the internet!

http://www.myspace.com/pinklace911

http://pinklace.deviantart.com

http://www.theanimatress.com <---my portfolio

Hi, Im Brittany and im 22.

I have been a vegetarian since August. i decided to go this way for many ethical reasons. As well as a few others.

I call myself a vegetarian though i may eat seafood in social setting. i dont make food with egg products or cheese in it, though if someone offers me a meal with that in it, i dont usually turn it away. I do get some flack, from co-workers mostly, just bc of what i choose to eat  it and when. but i hold myself back everytime, when i want to tell them what they are doing to themselves and the animals.

mostly i just pity them. bc i feel so much better since i made the lifestyle change. you can call me whatever you'd like =)

Hello--my name is Maria.  Let's see--a bit about myself...Well--my weight has fluctuated up and down--oh about all my life.  In 2007 I went to Japan and lost 46 lbs.  The highest I ever weighed was before I went (a whopping 246 and busting out of a size 20).  Got back, got a little lazy--didn't quite get that large again---but since I wasn't walking or riding as much, I lost the tone.  In September of 2008, I'd had enough--did a juice/water fast...and came out vegetarian.  Worked out a ton, lost inches and weight--don't know how much--I hate numbers...just focused on sizes.   Anyway--got sick in November and became lax again--did another fast...and right now I"m in a transitioning period into veganism.  It's the seventh day--I feel amazing, and without exercise I've already seen a difference.  I'm following the more "whole foods" vegan thing---which means I basically make a lot of my own stuff and don't rely on processed vegan foods (not saying I won't--but I've always loved veggies and cooking, so ...).  I'm inclined to believe I have a super slow metabolism because, regardless of how good I eat (and I do eat well--I've never been a "bad eater"....I think at one point I was an emotional eater---but even then I'd eat healthy ****, go figure)---if I don't workout a ton (and I do mean a ton), I don't lose much.  We'll see how this goes though.  My reasons for going vegan?  A whole host of things--never was much of a meat eater (loved cheese though!)--and after doing a ton of research, I feel like veganism is for me--not out to change the world or change people (though if people ask, I'll happily talk about it) but it just seems that its right for me.  I feel awesome so far.  Because I was vegetarian (and very much a whole foods one)--I feel like this transition is a bit easy.  I don't miss meat at all.  And so far I haven't craved cheese or dairy (never was a milk drinker) or eggs (could go months without those anyway).  I assume I'll hit a "holy cow I want cheese" point soon--but so far...I'm good.  I'm not sure of my weight right now...I'm going to guess its hovering around 200...and I'm 5'3.  I tend to gain weight proportionately and am very solid.  Hm...goal weight--150ish.  I suppose--but really, I just want to get into a size 10 or 12 for the moment.  I'm hovering between a 16 and 18 (usually 16, but just depends on the pants--I gots a big ol' arse dude).

And I want to join this group to talk with other like-minded people as well as get more information and so forth...and etc. (I believe that I love to use the phrase "and so forth"--quite odd, no?)

And I have a love affair with lemons.  Oh, and I have two cats.

That about sums it up!

hello lacey- i wanted to reply to your post since you mentioned having an eating disorder. I don't know what yours is, but I struggle with anorexia (have for 20+ years) and can tell you that being vegetarian / vegan was and continues to be a life saver for me. I have worked through the body dysmorphia issues i had/have as a seperate issue from the basic reluctance i had to putting anything in my mouth. I found I was able to eat and eat in a healthy manner once I educated and empowered myself regarding vegetarianism and veganism. I still sometimes find myself falling into old patterns and I enjoy counting calories WAY too much, but when I am counting calories and measuring my food to make sure i am getting enough nutritionally, it feels healthy instead of destructuve and I have learned to appreciate that feeling.  Sounds a little silly, but eating went from a control issue to and in control issue... anyway, i know being able to discuss things with people who are not gonna knock you over the head with judgement makes it easier to cope... I look forward to perusing your portfolio...do you miss Portland? I am up there on a regular basis (my daughter's dad lives up there) and I love it. I love Chicago too- but it is sooooooooo cold.... as for vegan friendly hair-care at reasonable prices, try Dr. Bronner products. As far as I know, all their products are vegan except for lip balm (beeswax). I use the basic peppermint castile soap but I know they have shampoo and conditioner too...the website is pretty user friendly...anyway, welcome!

Original Post by allisonwanderland:

hello lacey- i wanted to reply to your post since you mentioned having an eating disorder. I don't know what yours is, but I struggle with anorexia (have for 20+ years) and can tell you that being vegetarian / vegan was and continues to be a life saver for me. I have worked through the body dysmorphia issues i had/have as a seperate issue from the basic reluctance i had to putting anything in my mouth. I found I was able to eat and eat in a healthy manner once I educated and empowered myself regarding vegetarianism and veganism. I still sometimes find myself falling into old patterns and I enjoy counting calories WAY too much, but when I am counting calories and measuring my food to make sure i am getting enough nutritionally, it feels healthy instead of destructuve and I have learned to appreciate that feeling.  Sounds a little silly, but eating went from a control issue to and in control issue... anyway, i know being able to discuss things with people who are not gonna knock you over the head with judgement makes it easier to cope... I look forward to perusing your portfolio...do you miss Portland? I am up there on a regular basis (my daughter's dad lives up there) and I love it. I love Chicago too- but it is sooooooooo cold.... as for vegan friendly hair-care at reasonable prices, try Dr. Bronner products. As far as I know, all their products are vegan except for lip balm (beeswax). I use the basic peppermint castile soap but I know they have shampoo and conditioner too...the website is pretty user friendly...anyway, welcome!

Hi Allison! In highschool (5 years ago) I was anorexic, with my lowest weight being 90 pounds, which was below the bmi for my height and age.  I think most people with eating disorders never fully recover... especially those who never receive treatment.  I came out of my anorexia because of fear.... I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to have children. So I worked out every day so that I could be comfortable with my weight gain... but then I kept gaining! I couldn't make myself throw up so I went all the way up to 135 over a couple of years. And now, about 5 to 6 years after being 90 pounds, I'm doing pretty good at 123. I still have destructive habits that my wonderful fiance helps me with every day.  I still obsess about weight, food, counting calories, etc. But I'm not deathly afraid like I used to be. And I still have body dysmorphic disorder... I'm not sure when that will go away.

Like you, being a vegetarian and vegan has heped tremendously. On days where I eat too much... or I think I eat too much... I feel okay because the food wasn't as terrible for me as it could have been if I wasn't vegan.  I'm only vegan for the animal rights issues... so it's a happy cioncedance that it helps me be in control of my disorder as well :)

I only miss the trees and hills of Portland... and sometimes the rain :) just because it's always so damn sunny in Chicago! It's wierding me out! And my eyes aren't used to it. I don't really mind the cold actually... it makes me really appreciate "good" weather. And by good... I mean 30 degrees or higher :)

Thanks for the products tips! ^_^

Hi everyone-

I am a 22 year old living in DC and have been a vegan for 6 months, since just after graduating from college (go Georgetown Hoyas!). I smoked throughout college and ate almost entirely crap, resulting in weight gain and a basically non-existent immune system. I was sick ALL the time, and perpetually exhausted even when I wasn't sick. Although I dabbled in vegetarianism in college, all that gave me was an excuse to eat pizza and pasta all the time. I passionately support animal rights and welfare, so veganism was always something I wanted to adopt, but it never seemed possible, as I was caring for myself so poorly throughout college. I just didn't think I could do it.

Since graduating and getting a regular job, regular sleep schedule and a fridge I am not sharing with 6 people, I have been able to quit smoking, become 100% vegan, and not get sick even one time! I am also not drinking 3-4 nights a week anymore and I know that is helping a great deal as well.

I LOVE being vegan because it automatically pushes me toward healthier foods--my Achilles' heels of dieting are no longer an issue (cheese, pizza, chocolate)--although I do still manage to overindulge with vegan snacks (guacamole, anyone?).

When I first became vegan I dropped 10 lbs in 2 months without consciously dieting at all, but now I have gained that back (I call it my "winter coat"- seems to happen every winter, when all I want to do is stay inside and be warm and eat food...)

I joined CC to try to regain control and consciousness over what I am eating and to make sure I am eating a healthy vegan diet in the process.