How many vegetarians here have info about energy?

[SaveABug]

I used to be, but haven't been for awhile because I lost a bunch of weight I couldn't afford to and felt weak.

I think I didn't have enough information on how to do it right. I ate veggies and drank milk and ate cheese, but still felt weak.

What did I do wrong?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. I don't know what you did wrong..I was vegetarian for 4 years

sickest 4 years of my life...now I am a big ole carnivore..it was more for environmental reasons than anything else.

[rucky]

2. Prolly Anemia

Beans & lentils help (best w/ rice). But it's always good to take a supplement w/ iron & some ammino acids in it - especially females.

[Gingersnap]

3. been vegetarian for 19 years

God, 19, I can hardly believe it. I must be old. Anyway, my husband and I have been vegetarians a long time and have no problem with weight loss (oh wish that that were so) or low energy. He's a doctor (that seems to give Dean such authority among some, I might as well mention it here) A vegetarian diet can be totally healthy--way healthier than the average american diet if you know what you're doing.

You need to lay off the cheese, it's not a great source of protein (kefir, a liquid yogurt drink is higher in both calcium and protein) and eat whole grains (rice, millet, quinoa) with legumes regularly. There are a ton of different kinds of beans you can try at online heirloom bean distributors. I try to eat lots of leafy greens too--swiss chard, beet greens, spinach. Tofu is good too. Get yourself a really good cookbook and you'll gradually adapt. I think it really helps to like to cook to make it work. (the meat cravings go away in a year or so--they did for me anyway, and meat isn't even food to me anymore). You might want to keep eating fish for a while until you transition.

Good luck.

[ott]

4. Try getting a list of your daily nutritional requirements

And making sure you're not missing anything.

I've been vegan for 2 years, never felt better or been healthier.

Of course dairy is one of the worst things you can put in your body and you might be lactose intolerant. I was all my life without realizing it.

I would suggest plenty of supplements for B12, calcium, and iron, or anything else you might be lacking. Also, to eat plenty of beans, legumes, and nuts for protein and calories.

Water, water, water.