Living Vegan For Dummies - Alexandra Jamieson [19]
Just keep in mind that staying positive and keeping a creative mindset are important character traits when trying to endure any setbacks or challenges.
The pros of converting quickly
Immediately getting rid of every morsel of meat or dollop of dairy can be a really satisfying experience on many different fronts. Consider these benefits of converting quickly:
You may notice the health benefits quickly. For someone who has health problems that are exacerbated by meat, has excess weight to lose, or is sensitive or allergic to dairy, this method can yield near immediate positive feelings. Imagine that you’ve been having asthma, a runny nose, or allergies for years, and then all of a sudden your phlegm disappears because you stopped drinking milk and eating cheese just a few days ago — it’s a terrific feeling, and you’ll want it to continue. How’s that for an incentive?
You can be relieved that you’re no longer contributing to animal cruelty. If animal rights and the moral issues behind veganism are an important part of your decision, you’ll immediately feel so much better about eating food that doesn’t contribute to the pain and suffering of others. When you realize how inhumanely animals are raised and feel compassion for the creatures that humans eat, it can be really heartbreaking to continue eating them yourself. So making the switch quickly will be a huge relief to your conscience.
You can be energized by the change in lifestyle. Many people find it fun and exciting to have a life full of purpose and a new way of doing their daily deeds. Buying different foods, exploring new shops and Web sites, and discovering the complexities of a vegan life can feel truly energizing.
The cons of going too fast
Adopting the vegan way of doing things too quickly can be dizzying with its complexities and new rules. Keep in mind some of the drawbacks to moving too fast:
Your health may initially be affected and can cause you to crash and burn or get sick during a busy workweek. Detoxing from meat and dairy foods is a possible side effect when you choose to go vegan. When the body stops storing the constant influx of unhealthy fats and proteins, it will finally have a chance to let go and cleanse. This cleansing can be physically uncomfortable and may result in headaches, acne, tiredness, or the urge to invade small countries. Your digestive system may not be accustomed to such large amounts of fiber, so you also could notice some bloating and increased bowel movements at the beginning of your transition.
You may go broke trying to replace every animal product in your home. Donating or throwing away everything that was tested on or was once part of an animal can leave your cupboards bare and your house and closets empty. Replacing the leather sofa costs money as will filling up your refrigerator with vegan food. Think about how much you need to throw out to be truly vegan — and how much money you’ll need to spend to replace it.
You may make mistakes if you don’t do the proper research beforehand. You’re probably going to mess up in the first few weeks of being vegan. If you go too quickly and don’t research all the foods, ingredients, and products you buy and use, you may continue using things that were tested on animals or that use animal ingredients. Still, messing up isn’t a good reason to give up — if you trip going down the stairs, do you swear off stairs forever? No. You get up, dust yourself off, and start walking down again. Keep it up, and you’ll figure it out. And eventually you’ll be sliding down the banister!
Taking a Slow, Systematic Approach
Most new vegans find that a less abrupt, slow and steady transition approach works best for them. Changing your diet and lifestyle completely can be really challenging,