Introductions - Why Vegetarian?

[Chris Tinney]

How fun! Welcome.

Just thought I'd say hi and introduce myself.
Im the founder of VegHaven :)
This is me :)~

I'm traveling for the next year on The Peace Tour..

I'm Vegan for for both health and ethical reasons.
My intention in starting VegHaven was to create a Social Network that makes a difference!

Thanks for coming and please jump in and tell us about yourself :)

What made you become Vegetarian?

How did you find your way here?

We can't wait to learn more about you!

Namaste,
Chris

[Cari]

WoW I had the same reaction. I was surfing youtube one night and stumbled upon some videos...maybe worse than Meet your Meat, and I couldn't stop crying. I felt like I was surrounded by barbarians after that. It does feel great to no longer contribute to the torture/murders of billions of animals. Keep spreadin the word Kathy!!! U Go Girl :)

[Anita Karenina]

Dear Kathy,
I am so glad you are here, that means a lot. I do not wish to preeche, i am not a preach. But if you still drink cows milk i am afraid you cannot look at a cow and feel at peace. I do not know if the video you saw mentioned the diary industry, but the horrors cows go through are beyond belief. I do never watch videos, never needed to even though i have a lot of images haunting me about animal cruelty. I believe the only way we can be at peace it is when we stop supporting indudtries that contribute to animal suffering. Only then you know you are doing your best. I know i will never be at peace because there are cages, there is misery, there is death....But perhaps fighting for animals rights will help minimize my sorrow for all animals.
I am a cruelty free human being, as far as i know. And still i cannot be at peace.

Congratulations for what you have become so far.
Anita

[moonoleander]

First off, hello everybody! : )

Ever since I was young, I was conscious about animals being in my food; I was a quiet fighter that never won.

Finally, at the age of 17, I got the "balls" to say "I don't care what you do to me, I'm going to be vegetarian."

I've been vegetarian for nearly a year now for the animals, my religion and my health. And, I'm loving every second of it. Took me awhile to get off the sea food because I use to be a notorious sushi eater, but sashimi is for the fishes.

I'm more than excited to have finally found this website because, in my situation, being vegetarian feels like such a lonely cause.

[Anita Karenina]

Please everyone go VEGAN for the poor COWS!!!!

I have been saying to every new vegetarian in this site that cows and their babies go through hell so humans can drink their milk.

Milk is for babies only. Cow's milk is for calves only!

Much love to you all compassionate people!

Anita

[melissa]

i used to adore fishing. then, one day, i actually caught a fish. it really upset me; not the reaction i had expected. i wanted to throw it back, but the hook was stuck in his throat and he was going to die anyway. my husband tried to get me to watch him gut it, but i couldnt stand it. after months of trying to ignore it, the growing guilt got to me... and here i am.

[pradtf]

interesting that it was a fish that enlightened you melissa!

here are some links regarding fish and pain:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2983045.stm
http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s1733327.htm

the second link is particularly useful in that it goes into some details of the experiment and even makes a recommendation (much of it deduced accurately).

the events that motivate people to not contribute to killing are certainly varied. my mother had a similar experience when she saw a young goat being killed. she wanted to stop eating meat altogether, but she found it very difficult in her east indian cultural setting which required that she follow her husband's wishes. my father was a 'modern' indian, happy to take on western ways and so she obediently followed a diet of corpses against her better judgement.

however, neither had counted on their son becoming veg and their 9 year old grandson forcing them to go veg in the future. though my mother felt unable to make the changes she knew was right many decades ago, she has fully been able to realize them for the past many years.

in friendship,
prad

[~*Vegan Val*~]

Hello! :)

I was very close to becoming a vegetarian already as a young teenager (growing up in a meat-eating family..) and had to force the image of the animal out of my head. My parents treated me as if I was just being silly.. so I ended up continuing to eat meat, though rarely. Years forward, I met my husband who was a big, big carnivore! (He used to lift, so eating meat for the protein [yeah, I know..] was a 'given' in his life.) Long story short, I slipped into this lifestyle and ate lots of meat myself. :(

A few months ago I read 'The Skinny Bitch' and that really was the turning point for me! It was as if the blinders that I wore all these years finally came off and made me see the brutal truth! I was so shocked & sad for all these poor animals, there was just no way I could ever continue eating meat!
Thankfully I convinced my husband too and raise my 2 kids also veg. now.

As to turning vegan.. I avoid eating eggs (and if, only free range [hoping that it's really from 'happy chicken'?] and switched to soy milk & yogurt. The only hard time I have giving up is my beloved cheese.. :( I don't eat it daily and buy organic [hoping that makes a difference!?] but I think in the future I might go vegan. Right now I'm happy to make one step at a time.. even though I have to admit, I feel a bit like a 'hypocrite' still using dairy sometimes :(( (My toddler still clings to his milk; he wouldn't touch any soy or other nut milk.. Since he's not a good eater by all means I always surrender and still buy cow's milk *hide* which I honestly detest having to do.. I'm hoping that'll be over in a few months!)

We're about to move to Italy (we're military family) so I'm really looking forward having access to lots of fresh fruit & veggies and also eggs & cheese directly from local small farmers.

Anyway, I'm so happy having found this site!!! Considering that I'm still a newbie to this lifestyle, it's great being in such a wonderful community! :)

Namaste!

[~*Vegan Val*~]

Thanks, Big G! :)
Wow, really? I wonder if that's linked to anything women 'need' more physically?? Would be interesting to research that!
I think for me the biggest part is 'letting go' or better say the thought of "from now on you can never eat this again!" Does that make sense?
Ahh.. maybe I'll find a vegan version of fresh mozzarella, then I'll be fine -together with some vegan feta, both are my absolute favorite and I'd almost chose them over chocolate! LOL

Oh boy.. chocolate.. I guess that's another thing I'd have to check out too, huh?..
Is there a list of what to avoid and where to check of what's ok for vegan and what not???

[~*Vegan Val*~]

Big G.,
you know, you're right; eating out of emotions is def. the key! I've suffered more than half of my life of an ED, so I know now that I'm recovered I somehow don't ever want to 'restrict' myself again.. though I know of course that meat will never be an option for me for ex. Like I said, maybe in the long run I'll turn vegan w/o even realizing it. ;)
Until then I'm really happy to have mock versions; though I try to avoid eating too many 'man made' food products and rather stick with nature's produce & fruit.

Thanks for the hint on the chocolate; I'll have to investigate. ;-)

Have a good night,
Namaste!

[~*Vegan Val*~]

Thank you for your words, Big G.!
Have a great weekend! :)

[pradtf]

hi val!
i always like bigG's posts too!

regarding the cheese, it is actually addictive which is why people find it so hard to give up. cheese contains casomorphins (http://www.pcrm.org/news/commentary030519.html).

in friendship,
prad

[pradtf]

one of my students many years ago used to call me yoda - something about the ears possibly.
if you want to see our yoda though go here (but brace yourself for a tsunami of cuteness):
http://towardsfreedom.com/kindred/yaaa/

in friendship,
prad