General Discussion

hollograham

(22 posts)

30. I'm sad

Reply to Luminous Animal (Original post)

Fri Mar 4, 2016, 02:43 AM

Mar 2016

I have tried to give up meat 5 times. twice vegan, other times veg. All 5 times I got really sick and weak. Lost way to much weight. The first time I thought it was because I am an amateur. But the other times I was very serious about calorie counting, making sure I got enough proteins and micro-nutrients...made no difference. By 6 months in I am way too thin and feel really unwell. The last time I tried going a whole year, and I broke down when friend stopped by with some homemade soup stock...it was calling me like a strong sex drive...something deep and primordial compelling me to have some. I couldn't think about anything else. And this is not hyperbole: It tasted like liquid gold. I swear I could feel cells in my body coming back alive as it went down my throat and radiated out. Don't read this as a pro-meat reply...It is not at all one. I have always wanted to avoid meat and hope anybody that can does...my body just seems to need at least a little. It was a frustrating journey to having to accept that.

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So glad that I gave up eating meat. So glad that I can look in any animal's eye and say... [View all] Luminous Animal Mar 2016 OP

I look them in the eye Press Virginia Mar 2016 #1

Do you take pliers and pull out their teeth, do you cut their tails off, do you knife off their Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #2

Only if I'm making soup Press Virginia Mar 2016 #3

Then. No. You do not. You cede horrors for things that you will not do. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #5

The only horror is the thought of an unfinished steak Press Virginia Mar 2016 #6

.... Armymedic88 Mar 2016 #8

Of course you did, dear. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #9

Oh snap!!! GGJohn Mar 2016 #13

Brought this to mind... TipTok Mar 2016 #46

If meat is murder Press Virginia Mar 2016 #60

Bless your little heart... LanternWaste Mar 2016 #52

Oh no. Bless the brave men and women whose jobs make it possible Press Virginia Mar 2016 #59

The people who work in slaughterhouses have crappy jobs Nevernose Mar 2016 #123

I respect and appreciate their work Press Virginia Mar 2016 #124

How about this, then..... A HERETIC I AM Mar 2016 #244

Ding! Winnah! Raster Mar 2016 #65

I hunted antelope in New Mexico. They tasted great. Katashi_itto Mar 2016 #159

I too can look at an animal Separation Mar 2016 #229

"I look them in the eye" Nuclear Unicorn Mar 2016 #72

Ha Press Virginia Mar 2016 #115

LOOK ME IN THE EYES! snooper2 Mar 2016 #79

That is disturbing Press Virginia Mar 2016 #114

Don't they call that a star nosed mole? Probably tastes earthy. Hekate Mar 2016 #129

KILL IT!!!! KILL IT DEAD!!!!! Quackers Mar 2016 #231

Why join this post except to be a jerk? nt Logical Mar 2016 #120

It was a joke, Francis. Lighten up. Press Virginia Mar 2016 #121

Hey Logical, GGJohn Mar 2016 #135

I can see this post going down a road you don't want.. Armymedic88 Mar 2016 #4

This post will go down pretty much that I expect. A celebration of cruelty. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #7

I grew up on a family farm... Armymedic88 Mar 2016 #17

Agree. Drahthaardogs Mar 2016 #86

We cut tails and pulled teeth on piglets on our farm. NickB79 Mar 2016 #125

We had friends who raised swine... Armymedic88 Mar 2016 #131

I wish we used castration bands NickB79 Mar 2016 #210

The pulling teeth I have never heard of?! Armymedic88 Mar 2016 #132

But also a celebration of your moral rectitude in the face of those who eat meat right? el_bryanto Mar 2016 #163

Of course it's the point. n/t A HERETIC I AM Mar 2016 #245

Have you given up drink? nt msanthrope Mar 2016 #10

Water is great. Thanks for asking. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #19

I'm going to suggest water, aspirin, and bed. nt msanthrope Mar 2016 #22

Why? Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #27

You bad. But maybe this is just a symptom of boredom. Look at all the replies! Hekate Mar 2016 #130

This is as good as the thread where LA threatened to tell the Internet I was plagarizing..... msanthrope Mar 2016 #155

Don't refer to people with their initials. 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #178

Welcome to DU. I like the cut of your jib. nt msanthrope Mar 2016 #180

TY. 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #185

Sure, just like LBJ, JFK, FDR, ... Major Nikon Mar 2016 #246

There you have it Hekate Mar 2016 #181

Interesting that you asked that. If my OP had said that I had given up drink and that I Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #218

I'd raise me glass to you, LA. nt msanthrope Mar 2016 #226

We are all animals. nt Agnosticsherbet Mar 2016 #11

I don't kill my sister for sustenance. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #14

Neither do I, though fought like crazy as kids. Agnosticsherbet Mar 2016 #15

And? Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #18

We evolved as omnivores. Agnosticsherbet Mar 2016 #21

There is omnivore and there is contributing to massive cruelty and suffering. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #23

Not to mention the environmental devastation caused by animal agriculture. nt Svafa Mar 2016 #103

Every type of farming leads to some environmental devestation. mac56 Mar 2016 #190

Right, but not only do the animals themselves Svafa Mar 2016 #191

I seriously doubt that Major Nikon Mar 2016 #173

Excellent post. Thanks...I will have to use this later on down the road. Hope that's ok. Kang Colby Mar 2016 #186

Here's some other fun points to kick around Major Nikon Mar 2016 #192

I look at them through a scope mounted to my .308 GGJohn Mar 2016 #12

Indeed. When it comes to killing, everybody turns into a philanthropist on DU. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #16

Think what you will, GGJohn Mar 2016 #20

GGJohn Thank you for your service... Armymedic88 Mar 2016 #24

Thank you. GGJohn Mar 2016 #29

Yes was stationed at Ft Hood... Armymedic88 Mar 2016 #32

Yes. I grew up on a farm and you damn well know factory farms have ZERO to do Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #25

Except I'm not defending factory farms, GGJohn Mar 2016 #26

This message was self-deleted by its author Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #28

Yet. Most of the U.S. gets their food from factory farms. If you aren't defending factory farms... Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #31

We eat only what we hunt and raise, I refuse to buy meat from supermarkets just GGJohn Mar 2016 #33

Exactly. And I live in a city where the most of the meat available is packaged from factory Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #34

But your OP is not about factory farms. Not at all. Bluenorthwest Mar 2016 #49

"raised by people whose names I know" melman Mar 2016 #126

For you..... msanthrope Mar 2016 #150

Sorry, but your post reminded me of this.... msanthrope Mar 2016 #156

I first learned to shoot in the Navy. Mainly shotguns and sidearms. Ended up on Admirals staff 2nd f Katashi_itto Mar 2016 #160

Admiral's staff? GGJohn Mar 2016 #162

I think your right its about the same thing. In the boat with you Katashi_itto Mar 2016 #164

Yeah it was prestigious, but hell piloting helicopters would have been wicked. Katashi_itto Mar 2016 #165

It did get interesting and terrifying at times, GGJohn Mar 2016 #166

There was desert storm but otherwise lots of coffee drinking and fleet logistics Katashi_itto Mar 2016 #167

I commanded a squadron of Apache's during Desert Storm, GGJohn Mar 2016 #168

Very cool! Katashi_itto Mar 2016 #174

Creative story. LanternWaste Mar 2016 #53

No idea what you're talking about, GGJohn Mar 2016 #58

Wow, I knew you would have to post something just to insult the OP. Wow, you are a tough guy. nt Logical Mar 2016 #122

Wow, a bunch of others doing the same thing and you single me out? GGJohn Mar 2016 #133

Quit whining, you were the first one I saw. And had to describe the gun.... Logical Mar 2016 #136

Stating a fact isn't whining. GGJohn Mar 2016 #137

I think you meant "couldn't care less" nt Logical Mar 2016 #139

Ooh ooh... Pick me! TipTok Mar 2016 #138

Do you have a gun story to tell? Nt Logical Mar 2016 #140

I've never shot at animals... TipTok Mar 2016 #141

Definitely takes courage! I cannot imagine. Nt Logical Mar 2016 #142

... GGJohn Mar 2016 #143

Playing the odds... TipTok Mar 2016 #144

You should visit Las Vegas with those odds. GGJohn Mar 2016 #145

I'm sad hollograham Mar 2016 #30

Even if people *ate less* of it -- or just were careful how their meat animals were raised villager Mar 2016 #36

right hollograham Mar 2016 #38

I'm Jewish, and you might be better off getting free-range, cruelty-free, rather than Kosher villager Mar 2016 #39

you tried hard... you shouldn't feel bad renate Mar 2016 #98

People like to laud their callousness and cruelty in threads like this. Part of the dissonance villager Mar 2016 #35

+1 Svafa Mar 2016 #105

it seems a little strange to me renate Mar 2016 #117

It's akin to the bluster and put-downs of the gun-toters villager Mar 2016 #118

That's a bad comparison. 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #183

welcome to DU! renate Mar 2016 #206

Being Vegetarian or Vegan is a choice Bettie Mar 2016 #253

Veggies are mute. Because they don't safeinOhio Mar 2016 #37

Vegetables don't have a central nervous system. CrispyQ Mar 2016 #81

This is a ridiculous argument. They have no nervous system; they can not feel pain. Svafa Mar 2016 #106

How would we know safeinOhio Mar 2016 #119

Because they don't have a nervous system. Animals Svafa Mar 2016 #158

Are you vegan or vegetarian? I'm just curious. nt Quackers Mar 2016 #40

Now i can look at you in peace.... restorefreedom Mar 2016 #41

Kick. nt msanthrope Mar 2016 #42

Congratulations! It does feel good to live in accordance with your values. femmedem Mar 2016 #43

Regarding beef consumption, I would also encourage people to read "Mad Cowboy" CrispyQ Mar 2016 #90

Soy production is arguably worse Major Nikon Mar 2016 #194

Reading Mad Cowboy was the break for me, Mendocino Mar 2016 #208

All power to you but your veganism makes no difference to global warming. 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #188

See what GM soy does to do. hobbit709 Mar 2016 #44

There's plenty to eat without eating meat - LiberalElite Mar 2016 #45

Do you wear leather shoes? Nye Bevan Mar 2016 #47

I eschew leather shoes Doremus Mar 2016 #71

Dumb comment. many or most people who are veggie for ethical reasons do not wear animal products. HERVEPA Mar 2016 #251

Living according to your moral code is great FLPanhandle Mar 2016 #48

very true Duckhunter935 Mar 2016 #64

Where is the OP trying to make… dhill926 Mar 2016 #228

This is a bit sanctimonious. Deadshot Mar 2016 #50

If I said that I was happy to stop drinking alcohol but it made my life better... Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #213

Are you also so glad you can look down your nose in condescension at others? cleanhippie Mar 2016 #51

I didn't take the OP as sanctimonious at all. cwydro Mar 2016 #80

I bet if it came down to it linuxman Mar 2016 #54

Question Travis_0004 Mar 2016 #55

I have never thought of an animal as a sibling. N/t gollygee Mar 2016 #56

Gives a whole new meaning to Mom having a cow. KentuckyWoman Mar 2016 #66

You are right. 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #189

Right on target GulfCoast66 Mar 2016 #225

I'm a meat eater. bigwillq Mar 2016 #57

Mmm, delicious siblings. Om nom nom! Jester Messiah Mar 2016 #61

I am so glad I am going to have a thick Duckhunter935 Mar 2016 #62

Do you look a cat in the eye? A dog? rjsquirrel Mar 2016 #63

Dogs can and do eat vegetarian diets. Cats cannot. KamaAina Mar 2016 #96

I haven't ran across too many vegans that weren't cat owners Major Nikon Mar 2016 #198

My favorite vegan happens to be a dog person KamaAina Mar 2016 #199

I'm not sure what they put in Friskies and Meow Mix Major Nikon Mar 2016 #200

Ah. I see. KamaAina Mar 2016 #209

Vegetables are alive too. panader0 Mar 2016 #67

Yes, but they do not have a nervous system. They have no brain, so they are not conscious, Svafa Mar 2016 #107

I suggesy you read 'The Secret Life of Plants' panader0 Mar 2016 #111

No less absurd than equating all animals Major Nikon Mar 2016 #249

True not all animals fit that description, but when we're talking about Svafa Mar 2016 #250

Even in those instances, comparing them directly with humans just isn't that great of an idea Major Nikon Mar 2016 #252

I can do that too tazkcmo Mar 2016 #68

Pack your bags everyone! B2G Mar 2016 #69

I'm packing a lunch. pintobean Mar 2016 #70

"You are my sister. You are my brother." Nuclear Unicorn Mar 2016 #73

My brother is kind of a dick. zappaman Mar 2016 #259

My wife is entirely vegetarian, I don't regularly eat meat. We have dogs in the family. hunter Mar 2016 #74

I am not a vegetarian. fleur-de-lisa Mar 2016 #75

It's the sanctimonious and holier than thou tone... TipTok Mar 2016 #82

Umm, okay? fleur-de-lisa Mar 2016 #83

Maybe you wouldn't find it odd... TipTok Mar 2016 #84

I'm not sure what you mean by 'your group' . . . fleur-de-lisa Mar 2016 #87

Imagine if you were standing in a group of peers... TipTok Mar 2016 #88

Okay, but I would have just ignored it if I didn't agree. fleur-de-lisa Mar 2016 #89

Self inflicted wound... TipTok Mar 2016 #91

Perhaps . . . fleur-de-lisa Mar 2016 #92

Good luck... TipTok Mar 2016 #93

If I posted that I had was proud to give up alcohol. That giving up alcohol made my life better... Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #214

Only if you implied... TipTok Mar 2016 #216

Never implied anything. Just stated where I am at. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #217

Tell yourself whatever helps... TipTok Mar 2016 #232

It's exactly the same anywhere on the Internet with regards to vegetarianism. kentauros Mar 2016 #220

But... your animal has to eat meat. It's a law of nature. nt thereismore Mar 2016 #76

Guessing the animal hasn't industrialized the process to the point it's wrecking the climate, or villager Mar 2016 #109

anthropomorphising animals is amusing. Javaman Mar 2016 #77

This. nt msanthrope Mar 2016 #154

Feel better patting yourself on the back? TexasMommaWithAHat Mar 2016 #78

aww. are you having a low self-esteem day and the internet to tell you how wonderful you are? La Lioness Priyanka Mar 2016 #85

good for you... dhill926 Mar 2016 #94

"agree to disagree, but don't be dicks about it..." renate Mar 2016 #99

Yeah, I am surprised at the callousness here. I guess I expected better from progressives. Svafa Mar 2016 #108

They know you are right. leftyladyfrommo Mar 2016 #172

Give up eating meat? GGJohn Mar 2016 #243

I'm not the least bit surprised. kentauros Mar 2016 #221

Great seeing your post. n/t Judi Lynn Mar 2016 #149

I guess I'll have my popcorn without butter KamaAina Mar 2016 #95

remember kids, cheesecake's vegetarian and rum's vegan MisterP Mar 2016 #97

However, beer is not necessarily vegan KamaAina Mar 2016 #101

Yeah, I had to give up Bass Ale because of that. kentauros Mar 2016 #222

And in poetry. KamaAina Mar 2016 #257

You got me on that one! kentauros Mar 2016 #261

You know what is funny about this? nadinbrzezinski Mar 2016 #100

You are awesome! peace13 Mar 2016 #102

Consumption is part of nature.[n/t] Maedhros Mar 2016 #104

And if humans were still hunter-gatherers, maybe you'd have a point. Svafa Mar 2016 #110

We are not separate from nature, just because of our techology.[n/t] Maedhros Mar 2016 #116

Whatever. I am an enthusiastic carnivore, though closeupready Mar 2016 #112

You realize that if Mr. Fluffypaws was 10 times bigger than he is, he'd eat you in a hot minute. Warren DeMontague Mar 2016 #113

I love that picture NobodyHere Mar 2016 #148

If properly prepared, he'd eat you anyway Major Nikon Mar 2016 #238

Dogs, I think, love us. Cats view us as large pieces of meat which bring them smaller pieces of meat Warren DeMontague Mar 2016 #247

Esther the Wonder Pig made me give up bacon. ScreamingMeemie Mar 2016 #127

I thought bacon would be hard. I thought it was the one thing that would defeat me. Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #146

How long have you been a vegan? Was it a gradual thing, or did you go cold turkey? Tanuki Mar 2016 #171

I do get some of what you are saying. I work in animal rescue...though it is mainly michaz Mar 2016 #128

I can look in my cats eyes Glamrock Mar 2016 #134

So glad I gave up eating radishes. So glad that I can look in any radish's eye and say... pablo_marmol Mar 2016 #147

So many refuse to recognize animals are conscious beings. Awareness is hard. Many won't make it. n/t Judi Lynn Mar 2016 #151

Animals are as conscious as we are. leftyladyfrommo Mar 2016 #170

How many animals died to put your meal on the table? Major Nikon Mar 2016 #177

the responses handmade34 Mar 2016 #152

Yea Turin_C3PO Mar 2016 #175

Do you eat eggs or dairy products? oberliner Mar 2016 #153

Whoop dee friggen doo doo. DinahMoeHum Mar 2016 #157

No, I don't eat fish. kentauros Mar 2016 #223

Like I said: whoop dee friggen doo doo DinahMoeHum Mar 2016 #241

You posted something that encouraged a reply. kentauros Mar 2016 #242

Everybody gets to hold their own beliefs in this life. GliderGuider Mar 2016 #161

Researchers Have Found That Plants Know They Are Being Eaten hobbit709 Mar 2016 #169

Sending you hugs! mucifer Mar 2016 #176

Well, you made your dietary choice Bettie Mar 2016 #179

I once stumbled upon a coyote in northwest Pennsylvania Orrex Mar 2016 #182

The coyotes around here seem to eat mostly house cats Major Nikon Mar 2016 #193

Hmm... fullautohotdog Mar 2016 #255

Know how you can tell if someone's a vegan? Marr Mar 2016 #184

Actually, that's only true of the ones that are -new- vegans. kentauros Mar 2016 #224

Nothing turns DUers into asshats faster than this topic. yewberry Mar 2016 #187

It didn't come up in casual conversation. pintobean Mar 2016 #195

Did you fail to read my last sentence? yewberry Mar 2016 #203

Looks pretty good... TipTok Mar 2016 #239

Thereby proving my point. yewberry Mar 2016 #254

I couldn't care less about your choices... TipTok Mar 2016 #256

You decided to post something offensive to me yewberry Mar 2016 #258

I like this photo better Quackers Mar 2016 #234

!!! zappaman Mar 2016 #260

Sure, unless you think too much about that soyburger Major Nikon Mar 2016 #196

Animals do not look at you and say "You are my brother (or sister)." shrike Mar 2016 #197

I'm so glad this forum has a "Trash this thread" feature... eom Purveyor Mar 2016 #201

I gave up meat 30 years ago... marew Mar 2016 #202

Fear not the path of truth Mendocino Mar 2016 #204

Wow some people are very committed to meat gwheezie Mar 2016 #205

or sanctimony Major Nikon Mar 2016 #207

If I a had posted that I had given up alcohol and that doing so made be feel better would Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #215

Depends on whether you tried to lay a guilt trip on everyone who still drinks Major Nikon Mar 2016 #235

It is actually about the sanctimony Bettie Mar 2016 #211

So, if I said I am glad that I stopped drinking because it made my life better Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #212

If you spoke of how it affected you personally without Bettie Mar 2016 #219

+1 nt jonno99 Mar 2016 #227

The great thing about analogies is they can make complicated subjects simpler Major Nikon Mar 2016 #237

Their animals eat meat too, who could have guessed? Rex Mar 2016 #265

I grow and raise my own food. OkSustainAg Mar 2016 #230

Other than human animals who eat meat you mean? nt greyl Mar 2016 #233

Just like my animals, I like meat! B Calm Mar 2016 #236

meat is murder! ileus Mar 2016 #240

Trees, however, absolutely hate you. malthaussen Mar 2016 #248

I live my from what I know. Do you live your life from what you know? Luminous Animal Mar 2016 #263

That last paragraph is ridiculous. GaYellowDawg Mar 2016 #266

Olive Garden eleny Mar 2016 #262

My animals all eat meat, they are omnivores so I don't feel bad about Rex Mar 2016 #264