Last week I spent 7 days as a vegan. The most common question I received was ‘why?’. The answer is, the lifestyle and the health benefits intrigues me and I am very quick to say ‘I can’t, I couldn’t, I wouldn’t’ when I haven’t tried.
So for 7 days I tried.
First off, 7 days is not long enough to make an argument for or against. I can’t speak to health benefits, or changes in mind, body or spirit. What I can say is that it surprised me.
I discovered, I can do it, I could be a vegan, I would miss eggs and milk more than I would want to be a vegan.
- It was a 1000 times easier than I expected.
- I enjoyed it.
- I never felt deprived or hungry all week.
- I felt light, never bloated or too full.
- I love veggies and carbs.
- I ate out 5 times (2 breakfast, 3 dinners) there was always something I could have or switch up to meet my needs.
- Chickpeas are versatile
Struggles
- Soy milk in the coffee … I didn’t get used to this, no matter how much Starbucks charges.
- I craved variety. I wanted something new for dinner, not left overs. There was a bit of waste, and a lot of time planning meals.
- Tofu and tempeh – you can deep fry them, cover it is spicy sauce, it still doesn’t taste like anything.
- It is sometimes inconvenient, but you probably don’t need whatever it is that is causing the inconvenience.
Like I said 7 days isn’t long enough but my skin felt great last week, it was soft and not as dry as it normally is. I felt calmer, happier and less stressed all week. I can’t equate that all to the diet, but Monday when I started eating ‘anything’ again I felt bloated right away.
Overall, I liked it, and have a new appreciation for the challenges a vegan faces and the variety of food they can eat. I could become a vegetarian with ease, but to be a vegan you really need to believe that animals should not be exploited for human gain. I don’t wish harm upon any animal, and I struggle with the knowledge of animal treatment in many industries. However, when it comes to poached eggs on hot buttered toast I am sadly, a little okay with the exploit.
I would do it again, maybe a little longer and in the summer when fresh local produce is readily available.
here are more of my eats …
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
you know, i think the caveman thing has me eating more veggies and fruit and healthier than most vegans eat. my focus, though, has been to get closer to my food. my desire is to prepare most of my foods from their original states. so, i eat corn from a cob, not in a highly processed wacky version….that sort of thing. and you’re right, i feel light and healthy and alert. removing the processed carbs from my diet has made a huge difference. it’s been two months now and i haven’t had any bread…that is wacky talk, but i’m over it now. and…i’m 10lbs lighter. you should see me fly up the hills now!
Hmmm crazy I definitely woulda thought it’d be a lot harder then that! Good for you!
Ha. I would like to hear about Jeff’s caveman diet and how it’s healthier than most vegans
I am happy to hear you found it easy! It is! You do have to be creative though. We try a lot of recipes, for sure! (And eat a lot of leftovers!)
Very cool experiment. I don’t think I could or would really want to commit to a vegan lifestyle, although I definitely don’t doubt the health benefits of it.
Interesting find. I wonder what would happen if you tried it for longer than a week….like a month? I like that you weren’t bloated. Seems like I’m *always* bloated lately. Still, it’s not enough for me to try it right now. Maybe next time my husband leaves…..
Nice job on the tempo! I am finally starting to actually run them properly too. They are HARD, but I think I like them too! And yes. 10 miles. double digits = long run.
Loved the photos. You make me wanna go vegan. But really, only if I had a personal chef….
Love your thoughts on your trial! I am a huge fan of milk, plus eggs are a terrific source of protein. I haven’t tried it, but there are plenty of things I would be sad to give up (including Cadbury’s eggs).