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Going Vegan in 2011.
So as a gym owner and long time fitness enthusiast, at age 36 I am going Vegan as of...right now. I have been reading Thrive and also a book called Becoming Vegan. I am convinced of the nutritional validity of a Vegan diet and can find no other reason to not go Vegan other than for the sake of convenience.
After I announced this on my facebook page/pages I got an overwhelming response. It's crazy the reaction that a simple change in diet can incite. I am finding that people are either supportive, or simply are against it as it poses a threat to their way of life. My family mocked me tonight at a New Years Eve party and I just left. I was wondering if this is common place for most of you. Have you met this opposition? Has it come straight from your family? Thanks fort sharing and kick ass in 2011.
Micah
Views: 100
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michael Bloomfield on -
My approach is to simply say that I'm going to eat the most nutrient-dense foods for my body.
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Permalink Reply by Charlene Tomlinson on -
I felt strong opposition from friends & family when I first went vegan. However, I used all of their doubts & questions to continue my research on veganism, & I now have a response for every question I'm asked. Now, I'm met with curiosity more than opposition, & have helped hundreds of people change their diet, many totally vegan. Just remember that it comes from a place of love: your family is worried about something they do not understand. Help them understand & show them (by example) how amazing it can be to live as a vegan :) Happy 2011 and congratulations on your decision! Cheers to health!
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Permalink Reply by joyce Silverstein on
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Happy New Year, Micah! Congrats on your wonderful decision to become a vegan! I am also transitioning and here is some advice to hopefully help you on your journey.
My experience is that big changes in lifestyle, whatever they may be, are most successful and better received when done quietly. You open yourself up to controversy when you make a change that your audience is not ready for themselves. This goes for anything, diet, religion, politics, whatever. People need to feel that their way is the right way and most will go to great lengths to prove their point. Make your change and when people see how good you look and feel, you can tell them what you've done and maybe they will be more open to hearing about it. This especially goes for family. Good luck to you!
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Permalink Reply by Michelle Novak on -
Yes, I have most definitely felt this opposition, most strongly probably from family members. And I do think people often make fun of or laugh at things they don't understand. You may find the podcasts by Colleen Patrick Goudreau of Compassionate Cooks to be very helpful. Her mission is to "empower people to make informed food choices and to debunk myths about veganism and animal rights"
Each podcast is dedicated to a different topic, there is one on becoming newly vegan, living among the meateaters, etc. Gives you ideas for positive responses when you get all the ?'s you're going to get when you tell someone you're vegan. They also are great for recipes and info about ingredients, and nutritional info as well. Look it up at itunes or at compassionatecooks.com. And she's also got some awesome vegan cookbooks too--i cook from them all the time!
Before I became vegan, I too read Brendan's books and Becoming Vegan, and then I started listening to the podcasts and then I felt like I could more readily explain my choice to others. I also find that others seem to refrain from immediately throwing up the defenses, if I say I eat a plant based diet, and then as we talk about it, the word vegan works its way into conversation and it's not so startiling.
Cheers to your decision and cheers to a great 2011!
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Permalink Reply by Kadee on -
Hey Micha, Wow, yes, unfortunately that is a very typical response...I live in Northern Californa and the people here are known for being healthy active and foodies you would think they would be more open to being vegan...but I find most are so threatend by it...I think with being vegan there are some old sterotypes that we have to muddle through. The world is just really beginning to value a plant based diet and there are many many more well balanced vegans out there...in time they will all learn more and wont be so down on those of us who are vegan. As you may have already figured it's best just to stay the path and show them why this is a good choice for you. I still find it difficult in my dating life as a matter of fact most men I meet are really freaked out that I don't eat any animal products...and it turns them off nine times out of ten. Think it's a primal thing...lol. There are a lot of vegans out there on Facebook and great community support. Best of luck to you and look for us were out there in force on Facebook...lol Have a wonderful New year!
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Permalink Reply by Micah Hankins on -
Wow, thanks all for sharing. I have already in a very short time become quite adept at responding. I did study the subject for a good few months (still am) before I decided to make the transition so I had a solid grasp as to what I was facing and to why I am making the switch. Still, just pretty amused at not only the responses, but the quantity of responses. Thanks a ton everyone, Kadee (I'm also Northern Cal) I will keep you all posted. So far I'm loving it! Micah out.
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Permalink Reply by Kadee on
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Hey Micha, Wow Im in Santa Rosa...Just recently joined twenty four hour and hired a trainer so It's going to be neat to see what kind of results with a conventionally trained trainer and my vegan vega using body comes up with....lol
Micah Hankins said:Wow, thanks all for sharing. I have already in a very short time become quite adept at responding. I did study the subject for a good few months (still am) before I decided to make the transition so I had a solid grasp as to what I was facing and to why I am making the switch. Still, just pretty amused at not only the responses, but the quantity of responses. Thanks a ton everyone, Kadee (I'm also Northern Cal) I will keep you all posted. So far I'm loving it! Micah out.
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Permalink Reply by Micah Hankins on
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That is awesome. I started a group for all of my clients, including me to see just how crazy we can get in three months. Announcing to all of my clients that I'm now Vegan is great, now the spotlight is on me and what I'm doing within this new system which is pretty foreign to everyone in my gym. My goal in three months, and I will achieve it, drop 30lbs from 209lbs down to a 180lbs. I wanna shatter the stereotype of physical performance and strength and Vegans, in short, I wanna be in the best shape of my life at age 36 and now going Vegan. A tattooed gym owner that is ripped all on a Vegan diet! Sounds like fun to me.
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Permalink Reply by Megan Irene Ellis on
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It gets really easy as you continue to eat this way! It becomes a habit and you'll find lots of different things to eat and then animal products will not even cross your thought process of go to foods anymore! I am trying out 100 percent raw for this month....and I have found that it is SO much easier than I thought because I was already on a high raw diet that it was like nothing to just change the few things I was cooking and eating them in their natural state. So If you have a little difficulty at first...it may just be something you work your way into and then it will be very easy going! Either or, you will feel GREAT with the changes your making!! :)
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Permalink Reply by Kadee on
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Megan that's so true..I went purely raw this last summer and just recently added back a few not so raw items in for winter...I swear it's the best thing I have done for myself yet...Like you I eat a mostly raw diet already and I can't say enough about how wonderful it makes you feel...It's fun when you realize your craving good foods and animal based foods don't even cross your mind anymore...The only trick is making sure that your diet is balanced....Another reason I love the Vega products... :-)
Megan Irene Ellis said:It gets really easy as you continue to eat this way! It becomes a habit and you'll find lots of different things to eat and then animal products will not even cross your thought process of go to foods anymore! I am trying out 100 percent raw for this month....and I have found that it is SO much easier than I thought because I was already on a high raw diet that it was like nothing to just change the few things I was cooking and eating them in their natural state. So If you have a little difficulty at first...it may just be something you work your way into and then it will be very easy going! Either or, you will feel GREAT with the changes your making!! :)
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Permalink Reply by Jim Pilrose on
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Congrats on the move to veganism. Your body will thank you for it. Just be sure to stick mainly to to whole foods.
Lots of people go Vegan, but eat Vegan junk food (yes there is plenty out there) and find no benefit.
Don't worry about the naysayers, when they see your health skyrocketing, it might not convert them but it will silence them.
Good Luck!
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Permalink Reply by Micah Hankins on
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Thanks for all of your support folks. I'm feeling the love. If any of you want to follow me and what I'm doing look for me on facebook. I'm documenting all of my changes, even taking weight and pictures every Mon and posting for all my facebok peeps. Great threads, great response.
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