I am not a vegan yet. But, I am working toward that. The health benefits became apparent immediately. Things started getting better when I stopped eating meat. My thinking became clearer and my mood improved. That was the only benefits I could see and I was happy enough with that. My diet was still pretty bad though. I ate a lot of cheese, I mean a whole lot, like 6 oz a day maybe more. I was still eating a lot of processed food as well.

Then I found the benefits of fiber. I started eating oatmeal again sort of an accident it was the only food in the house and I was like what the heck I will give it a whirl. I loved it. Probably because I was really really hungry. I thought I might as well finish the container so I had it for breakfast every morning after that. Then when I was about 3/4 of the way through I noticed a lot of really good changes. I will list them by point.

1. I wasn't hungry between meals.

2. I was eating noticeably less.

3. Mood improved even more.

4. Thinking cleared up even more.

5. My joints had a lot less inflammation and it was a lot easier and less painful to move around. Note: they aren't all the way healthy yet but very improved.

6. Grocery bill went down

7. Almost eliminated meat craving which I struggled with for a year.

8. It is making it easier to cut down on dairy and eggs thus making it easier to transition into veganism.

So, my advice to anyone whether going vegan or not would be to eat a lot more fiber. Oatmeal works the best for me it is fast and easy to prepare and it is very versatile. It can be eaten sweet, savory, it can be fried, it can be used to make mock meatloaf, and it's cheap.

A lot of water helps me, although I'm trying to avoid starches which denies me my favorite protein and fibers choices like oatmeal, beans and rice. I went total vegan and primarily raw vegan a couple of years ago and felt better than I'd felt in my entire life of eating dead food.

A couple of years ago I fell off my regimen from having a major health setback, and dealing with the deaths of my closest people and other pressures. Plus no support system being vegan. Going back to any part of the SAD diet didn't help me at all.

It took me about a year to get cleansed enough to go total vegan. I started my journey again last fall to get away from dead food again. Food choices can be addictive, emotional and social matters that can be hard to overcome on one's own but as Clinton says it's needed when you get to a certain age.

My area is heavily vegan, although there is no genuine social connection. It was nice to see someone older like Clinton who decided to go vegan. That and the video of the crippled guy who found someone willing to be his coach and do yoga was another reminder we are the architects of our bodies. We have to hold onto that belief, not give in to how others perceive us.

Potatoes are probably not a good choice most of the time. I would say give up sugar if you can, sugar is pretty bad. I try to avoid things like pasta, but I do eat that occasionally. Beans are a good for both fiber and protein. But, that isn't to say a person shouldn't eat a lot of vegetables and fruit. Currently the recommendation is 5 servings, I think it should be closer to 10 and more might be better. But, it's all about what works for the individual. Some people are ok with a raw diet, I am not one of them. Although come summer time I will be eating a lot more raw food, because hot food makes me ill in the summer. But, I will not give up my oatmeal. It is a big part of my diet and the reason I am able to type more than one sentence at a time. I won't give up beans either since they are my main source of protein. But, people that do that, more power to them I wish them all the happiness they can take(I am sure they are likely very happy as it is), I have found that eating better does lead to better moods.

It is good that you are in a vegan community. Just being in an area like that means that stores will have more vegan options and the possibility of a thriving vegan restaurant(s). Currently no one I know is a vegan and I haven't a lot of food choices if I go out without packing my own food. Sometimes the best I can do is a slice of cheese pizza and that makes me feel lousy. Not because of the cheese so much, but because it is just cheese and carb, low fiber and not very satisfying. So, I found out that Sun Chips and V8 give me a lot more fiber so that is my Goto snack now if nothing else is available.

In any case it is nice to see that the vegan world has as much diversity as any other eating/life style and I am sure that there is one that will work for everyone.

right along with yams and oatmeal. Potatoes are a good complex carb but you can't load them up with stuff. I just steam a few small potatoes and mash them and add some soymilk and some spices. They are really good that way and they keep me from being hungry during the day.

I kind of go by John McDougall and he is big on eating complex carbs - just no junk food or processed food. And lots of fruits and veggies.

the oatmeal replaces the meat?

I am going to try it sometime when I am brave enough.

but lentils and oatmeal work really well for a meatless loaf.

My big roadblock.

The less diary I have, the better I am, though. What kind of cheese are you having, the dry ones or the other kind?

I can live without dry cheese, but cheddar and other yummy ones.... ugh. So hard.

...until the addiction subsides. Should take about three weeks. Here's a rundown:

The fat in diary is the worst because cow's milk (or anyone's) concentrates poisons like dioxins and radioactive substances from the environment. The fat is where it resides in the milk. Then it gets concentrated further when made into cheese.

Add to that the hormones and pus found in most milk products. If it doesn't have BGH added, it still has the cow's natural hormones. Plus any antibiotic residuals.

Still sounds yummy? Think of all the saturated animal fat which goes into you and into your blood, making it sticky and thick. And cheese also usually has a lot of added salt.

So that's what we eat when we eat cheese: saturated fat, salt, hormones, pus, antibiotics, and many contaminants from the environment, extra-concentrated.

Harsh, but it helped me stop eating the stuff! My weakness was ice cream. Now I blend up frozen bananas instead.

I went without dairy for several years and then gradually started putting it back in my diet.

I know all the things you spoke of in your post, but somehow I managed to shove all that information to the back of my mind. When I started drinking coffee again if there was no almond or soy milk available to me I had a choice of dairy or fat free half and half, and I didn't want the chemicals in the fake stuff.

Thanks for the figurative bop on the head that I needed!

It isn't always easy. Luckily, I prefer my coffee black.

Found this online, and it sounds great, although they also have almond yogurt which might be really good, too:

http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/product-request-form

And just found a recipe to make it at home:

http://www.smallfootprintfamily.com/2009/04/25/homemade-coconut-milk-yogurt/

And another one:

http://www.choosingraw.com/homemade-coconut-yogurt/

I eat mostly vegan to be heart-healthy, as I had a heart attack about three years ago. I like coconut milk, too, especially in Thai curries.

SoDelicioius has 6 grams of saturated fat, which the human liver turns into cholesterol.

as this chart will show you, fat-free regular yogurt is the way to go: no saturated fat.

http://www.fitsugar.com/Food-Review-So-Delicious-Coconut-Milk-Yogurt-2916122

I make almond milk from almonds, and could add the culture for the raw method in the second recipe for almond yogurt. The idea of a coconut version sounded so good. Just not enough protein.

I feel, and even look so much better when I eat yogurt, as I'm more hydrated and relaxed. That's part of what keeps me going back to yogurt (dairy).

Thanks for giving me this idea. If I have success making this with almond milk, I'll post it. Even if it comes out thin, I can add it to smoothies.

You can get them at most health food places. They're amazing -- my omni kids and fiancee eat the cheddar and mozzarella varieties with gusto.

a fast food joint and stuffing his face. He's really come a long way. Good for him.