Starting a temporary vegan diet today, what vitamins or supplements do I need?

[Arkitech]

Today will be the first day I start eating strictly fruits and vegetables. For the next 30 days or so I'm eliminating sweets, fried food and meat. I will be severely limiting myself from bread, starchy food and cheese. So I'll basically be living on just fruits, vegetables, juices and lots of tea (non-caffinated). After 30 days I will slowly begin introducing meat back into my diet, I will just limit myself however to poultry and fish. (nothing fried)

My question is what type of vitamins or supplements should I take? I'm drastically changing my diet and I want to make sure I get all of the things I need to remain healthy.

I posted a similar question some weeks ago but I barely made it through the first 3 days before I gave in and had a cheeseburger. Fortunately this time I'm more motivated and my wife will be doing the same thing.

 

[Scarpozzi]

You won't be missing much that you really need from the meat except proteins. I suggest a good multi-vitamin. If you get something that will cover all your bases, you won't have to worry about specifics. Keep in mind that vitamin E is good to take if you're worried about heart problems. (and that's the one of the primary reasons people stop eating meat) Just remember not to OD on vitamins. There is a such thing as getting too much of any one vitamin. I'm not sure exactly why, but a couple of doctors have told me that.

 

[CantedValve]

Originally posted by: Arkitech
Today will be the first day I start eating strictly fruits and vegetables. For the next 30 days or so I'm eliminating sweets, fried food and meat. I will be severely limiting myself from bread, starchy food and cheese. So I'll basically be living on just fruits, vegetables, juices and lots of tea (non-caffinated). After 30 days I will slowly begin introducing meat back into my diet, I will just limit myself however to poultry and fish. (nothing fried)

My question is what type of vitamins or supplements should I take? I'm drastically changing my diet and I want to make sure I get all of the things I need to remain healthy.

I posted a similar question some weeks ago but I barely made it through the first 3 days before I gave in and had a cheeseburger. Fortunately this time I'm more motivated and my wife will be doing the same thing.

Wow.... you must be a strong one... I couldnt do it... I crave charred meat.

I thought about trying it, but seriously.... I have to eat meat. I love meat.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I take these vitamins
Vitamin Pork Chops
Vitamin Steak
Vitamin Cheeseburger
Vitamin Bacon
Vitamin Sausage
Vitamin Pizza
Vitamin Itialian Beef
Vitamin Chicken
Vitamin Lamb
And on ocassion Vitamin Crab legs ... mmm

Good luck with that whole Diet thing ..

Perhaps after a month you will be forced to change your handle to 'Mr Thin Man' . If that day ever comes ... Congratulations

ON a more serious note,
I would think you would start with a good all around multivitamin,
Then talk to a Pharmacist or Nutritionalist (I'd recommend a pharmacist since they are at every drug store ... and you can ask them for advice and buy the vitamins in one stop, And they really do know what they are talking about.)

 

[NetworkDad]

I would suggest lots of beans to replace the protein. Get a good crock pot, and start learning to use it.

I'm assuming your going on this type of diet to 'cleanse' yourself, no? I did something similar...i never have stopped eating meat, but i changed the way i eat - I no longer buy red meats at the store. I tend to buy only fish, and sometimes poultry. I check all my foods i buy for excessive sugars, or where the first ingredient is 'High Fructose Corn Syrup'. If it has that ingredient in, i probably won't buy it. I've learned to take fresh vegetables, fruits, and make things from scratch in a quick amount of time.

I bought a bread machine a couple of years ago, and we cook fresh bread nearly every 3 days. Good luck on your quest for better eating!

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: NetworkDad
I would suggest lots of beans to replace the protein. Get a good crock pot, and start learning to use it.

I'm assuming your going on this type of diet to 'cleanse' yourself, no? I did something similar...i never have stopped eating meat, but i changed the way i eat - I no longer buy red meats at the store. I tend to buy only fish, and sometimes poultry. I check all my foods i buy for excessive sugars, or where the first ingredient is 'High Fructose Corn Syrup'. If it has that ingredient in, i probably won't buy it. I've learned to take fresh vegetables, fruits, and make things from scratch in a quick amount of time.

I bought a bread machine a couple of years ago, and we cook fresh bread nearly every 3 days. Good luck on your quest for better eating!

Has your change in diet had any affect on your body weight?

 

[Arkitech]

Anyone here familiar with tofu?

What is it made out of and what are some good ways to prepare it?

I'm going to stir fry vegetables tonite for dinner and I was thinking tofu might be good to add with it

 

[Geekbabe]

Do some reading about veggie diets and the need to make sure you get complete proteins

I'd say just add a small amount of grilled chicken breast to your diet,it'll give you what you need and probably be less hassle and less calories than beans

 

[rudder]

$5 says that he will be craving some grease and fat so bad that he will make a late night run for a bic mac within 10 days.

 

[0roo0roo]

exersize is better if your trying to lose weight. 30 days is short term thinking.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: rudder
$5 says that he will be craving some grease and fat so bad that he will make a late night run for a bic mac within 10 days.

I hope not, I can't give in to the darkside.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
exersize is better if your trying to lose weight. 30 days is short term thinking.

Actually I've been doing some fairly regular exercise, although I might take it up a notch over the next few weeks. This 30 days of eating natural will hopefully keep my system clean and who knows if I like the results I may keep going with it.

 

[NetworkDad]

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Has your change in diet had any affect on your body weight?

Yes. I've dropped 60 pounds this year. I have about another 100 to go that i'd like to lose, and i'm excercising that off.

I still eat red meat, but now only on an 'occasional' basis. I eat it probably once a month. Some of the things i've changed:

-Dairy: I dont drink milk anymore. I buy soy or rice milk. It took some getting used to, but i like the 'silk' brand soy. I really don't drink it...mainly just use it for cereal or cooking with.
Ice cream went too....i have ice cream about once every 3 months now instead of every other week.
Cheese - I love my cheese, so i cut down the consumption big time. I buy a 1 pound block of mozarella that lasts about a month.

-Caffeine/Pop: Gone. I've weaned myself off of the pop diet and coffee...Water is a good replacement.

 

[Arkitech]

Wow thats some amazing progress Networkdad, I hope I'm able to get similar results. I need to lose about 40 pounds, I'm hoping that by cutting out ALL of the bad stuff this month I'll get a good running start on my new eating habits. Fortunately for me I seldom if ever drink pop, I typically drink water about 95% of the time.

 

[NetworkDad]

Thanks. I've been overweight for a very long time. It's nice to have gotten results just by changing my eating habits.

I still have a ways to go....but joining a gym was the best thing i could have done.


Good luck...it's not as hard as everyone says it is, once you learn to cook or buy with a variety of foods. Variety was key for me, as i didn't want to be eating salads all the time.